Factors Influencing the Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Adoption of Digital Technologies in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the factors that influence the perceptions of smallholder farmers towards the adoption of digital technologies. A purposively selected sample of 250 smallholder farmers who were cross-sectionally surveyed from Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill Local Municipalities in South Africa was used in the study. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Attention, Desire, and Action (AIDA) model were used to analyse the data. The results showed that digital technologies were perceived to be expensive, cause a digital divide, and discouraged the use of Indigenous Knowledge even though they increased production. Positive perception towards digital technologies was associated with cattle rearing, with extreme negative perception for sheep and goat rearing. Educational level, employment status, monthly income, household size, being part of a cooperative (1% level), age, and source of income (10% level) were significant factors affecting smallholder farmers’ perceptions of digital technologies. In conclusion, there are economic, social justice, and traditional perceptions towards digital technologies by smallholder farmers, with socio-economic factors affecting the perceptions. The study recommends providing low-cost digital technologies that promote Indigenous Knowledge, which should target the youth and young farmers with less education in small households who are full-time farmers with moderate-to-high incomes and are part of farmer groups/organisations.

Exploring the impact of agricultural digitalization on smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Ghana

“…Additionally, farmers with a positive perception of the potential value (benefits) of digital technologies (as well as convenience compatibility with current needs, privacy and security concerns, and alignment with cultural norms) tend to have greater trust and acceptance for new technologies, which also drive their proclivity to adopt and intensively use digital technologies than those with negative perceptions. This finding is not only in line with the technology acceptance model [ 45 ] but also consistent with the findings of several studies that underscore the importance of perceptions in the adoption of agricultural technologies [ 11 , 19 , 46 ].…”

Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Adoption Preferences of Arable Growers in Ireland’s Atlantic-Influenced Climate

“…Adoption can be influenced by farmers' perceptions of the relative performance of new or innovative practices [1][2][3][4][5]; their innovation adoption/risk aversion preferences [1,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]; farmer and farm socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, farm size, educational level, farm structure, off-farm employment, location, etc. [13][14][15][16][17][18]; and in particular by information sources and information access methods utilized [3,[19][20][21][22]. The influence of these factors can vary depending on the agricultural context, such as farm size, region, etc., and the specific innovation being adopted [23].…”

Economic Strategies and Policy Suggestions of Agricultural Sustainable Food Production

“…The aim of the South African authors in their work was to influence smallholder farmers' perceptions of the adoption of digital technologies in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa [6]. Their study aimed to identify factors influencing smallholder farmers' perceptions towards the adoption of digital technologies.…”