Information needs and delivery channels: Experimental evidence from Cambodian smallholders

Abstract

Despite numerous policy interventions, poverty still exists. Those most harshly affected are people living in rural areas of low-income countries, regions that are often characterized by information asymmetries leading to market failure. The widespread growth of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in remote areas across the world holds immense potential for lifting the information barriers of the rural poor. However, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of delivery channels, which might be one reason why digital advice differs in its impact. Seeking to ascertain how smallholders can best be served by ICT, the authors investigated information needs and effective ICT delivery channels. Sociodemographic and ICT-related data was collected and a framed field experiment was conducted with smallholders in Cambodia; they were asked to build an object while using various delivery channels for instruction. Employing different regression techniques and matching algorithms, the experiment reveals that multisensory instructions trump all others.

Use of mobile phone technologies for accessing agricultural marketing information by grape smallholder farmers: a technological acceptance model (TAM) perspective

“…This has led to grape smallholder farmers waiting for the market to deliver better prices rather than searching for alternative buyers from distant markets for better profit. The findings were consistent with the studies conducted by Bruns et al . (2022) and Konkwo and Michael (2021) who found that farmers depended on fellow farmers as the most commonly utilised information source.…”

“…It also assists grape farmers to decide whether to sell at the farm gate or transport the product to better-paying distant markets. The importance of agricultural marketing information was also highlighted by Bruns et al . (2022), Kaddu et al .…”

“…It also assists grape farmers to decide whether to sell at the farm gate or transport the product to better-paying distant markets. The importance of agricultural marketing information was also highlighted by Bruns et al (2022), Kaddu et al (2020) and Omoregbee and Idiake-Ochei (2019) in which price, buyers and quality information were reported as commonly demanded information. This is a clear indication that the available agricultural marketing information is not sufficient as there is still high demand for TECHS 2,3 buyers and price information.…”

Factors influencing mobile phone usage awareness for accessing agricultural marketing information by grape smallholder farmers in Dodoma, Tanzania

“…This is a clear indicator that the use of mobile phones has revolutionized communication among smallholder grape farmers. Bruns et al (2022) and Kaddu et al (2020) revealed that price, buyers and quality information were the most frequently accessed agricultural marketing information. The findings partly suggest that access to agricultural marketing information cements the mutual relationship with buyers and helps grape farmers to make informed decisions.…”

“…To derive maximum benefits, smallholder farmers need to be knowledgeable about mobile phone use when accessing agricultural marketing information. Studies (Bruns et al , 2022; Kumaravel et al , 2022; Nugroho, 2021; Rahman et al , 2020; Raza et al , 2020) revealed that smallholder farmers used mobile phones to access agricultural marketing information. On the contrary, Dewi et al (2021) and Folitse et al (2018) indicated that farmers relied more on friends, family, neighbors, personal experience and cooperative societies in accessing agricultural marketing information.…”