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The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe

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Advances in Information and Communication (FICC 2022)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 439))

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Abstract

This research is an inquiry into the (under)utilisation of mobile phones by smallholder farmers in their agricultural activities in Zimbabwe. Through a naturalistic enquiry, the research established that agricultural extension officers are vital in the adoption and use of mobile phones for agricultural purposes. Those extension officers who were not skilled in productively using mobile phone technology had technophobia, which was the primary reason they did not use the technology in their interactions with farmers. Yet, a sizeable number of farmers used their mobile phones to receive information from agricultural extension officers, officials, other farmers, and market vendors. Interviewed farmers perceived the mobile phone as a tool for education in agricultural matters. However, very few used their phones effectively for agricultural purposes. The research identified two main inhibitors to the acceptance and use of mobile phones by farmers: a lack of the necessary digital skills, and lacking information to use mobile phones. Other inhibiting factors included semi-literacy, old age, insufficient infrastructure, socioeconomic status, excessive cost, and lack of support from telecommunications companies and other service providers. This research contributes a novel perspective to the body of knowledge regarding mobile technology adoption for agricultural activity in marginalised communities.

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Acknowledgments

The work is based on research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant Number 132180) and the University of South Africa’s Research Professor Support Program. The grant holder acknowledges that options, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed are that of the authors and that the NRF/Unisa accepts no liability whatsoever in this regard. We would like to thank the editors, program chairs and reviewers for their feedback that guided us to improve the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, South Africa

    Samuel Musungwini & Jan H Kroeze

  2. Centre for Communication Studies, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa

    Izak van Zyl

  3. Department of Information and Marketing Sciences, Faculty of Business Sciences, Midlands State University, P Bag 9055, Gweru, Zimbabwe

    Samuel Musungwini

Authors
  1. Samuel Musungwini
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  2. Izak van Zyl
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  3. Jan H Kroeze
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Correspondence to Samuel Musungwini .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Saga University, Saga, Japan

    Kohei Arai

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Musungwini, S., van Zyl, I., Kroeze, J.H. (2022). The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe. In: Arai, K. (eds) Advances in Information and Communication. FICC 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 439. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98015-3_37

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