An ICT model for increased adoption of farm input information in developing countries: A case in Sikasso, Mali

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a key role in the dissemination of information on farm inputs for their increased adoption. Small-scale cereal farmers have been exposed to ICT-based farm input information in developing countries. However, an underuse of these ICTs services has led to an insignificant adoption of farm input information. That underuse was due to certain factors. The purpose of this study was to propose an ICT model for increased adoption of farm input information by establishing these factors and their relationships. A convenient sample of 300 small-scale cereal farmers was selected in Sikasso, Mali to gather data. The partial least squares structural equation modelling technique was used to assess the model that was being proposed. We used the technique to establish the measurement model validity and to assess the structural model (hypotheses). The result suggested that the model was highly predictive of the Use of ICT-based farm input information (80.7%). In addition, use of these ICT-based farm input information was also highly predictive (68.4%) of the Increased Adoption of farm input information by small-scale cereal farmers in developing countries. Keywords: Cereal farmers, Productivity, ICT-based farm input information, Developing countries, Mali