ICT-Based Versus Human-Based Climate Information: Implications for Agronomic Decisions Among Smallholder Farmers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Smallholder farmers in South Africa face increasing climate variability, yet their agronomic decision-making depends on timely and reliable climate information. Although digital ICT platforms are expanding, limited evidence exists on how their effectiveness compares to human-based advisory systems. The study addresses this gap by examining the determinants of ICT-based climate information adoption using logistic regression and assessing its influence on agronomic decisions through propensity score matching (PSM). A cross-sectional survey and multistage sampling were used to collect data from 217 smallholder crop farmers in the Eastern Cape. The results indicate that 65% of farmers accessed climate information through ICT platforms, while 35% relied on human-based sources. The adoption of ICT-based information is driven by education, digital literacy, mobile network reliability, the perceived value of real-time updates, and smartphone ownership, whereas habitual dependence on traditional channels hinders digital uptake. PSM estimates show that ICT-based climate information is 10–15% less effective than human-based sources in shaping planting decisions, input use, and the timing of farm operations, likely due to digital literacy and infrastructure constraints. The study demonstrates that access to digital tools does not automatically translate into effective use and recommends a hybrid information model integrating digital platforms with trusted human intermediaries to strengthen climate resilience and agronomic decision-making.