The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe
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 agricultu...
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| Format: | Book chapter |
| Language: | English |
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Springer, Cham
2022
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98015-3_37 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/5035 |
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| author | Musungwini, Samuel van Zyl, Izak Kroeze , Jan H |
| author_facet | Musungwini, Samuel van Zyl, Izak Kroeze , Jan H |
| author_sort | Musungwini, Samuel |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | 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. |
| format | Book chapter |
| id | ir-11408-5035 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Springer, Cham |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-50352022-08-02T18:27:05Z The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe Musungwini, Samuel van Zyl, Izak Kroeze , Jan H Mobile technology Smallholder agriculture Naturalistic inquiry 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. 2022-08-02T18:27:05Z 2022-08-02T18:27:05Z 2022-03-12 Book chapter 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_37 978-3-030-98014-6 978-3-030-98015-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98015-3_37 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/5035 en Advances in Information and Communication. FICC 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems;Vol 439; Pages 530 – 544 open Springer, Cham |
| spellingShingle | Mobile technology Smallholder agriculture Naturalistic inquiry Musungwini, Samuel van Zyl, Izak Kroeze , Jan H The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title | The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | The Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers on the Use of Mobile Technology: A Naturalistic Inquiry in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | perceptions of smallholder farmers on the use of mobile technology: a naturalistic inquiry in zimbabwe |
| topic | Mobile technology Smallholder agriculture Naturalistic inquiry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98015-3_37 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/5035 |
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