Perceived challenges and determinants of farmers' intentions to adopt digital tools and services: Insights from Ghana

Abstract

Digitalization is increasingly promoted as a pathway for transforming smallholder agriculture in sub‐Saharan Africa; however, the adoption of digital farming tools and advisory services remains uneven. Drawing on cross‐sectional survey data from 1,565 smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana, this study examined the factors influencing farmers' intentions to adopt digital farming. The results from the multivariable binary logistic regressions show that gender, education, years of farming, household size, and awareness of services significantly influenced adoption intentions. In particular, female farmers exhibited a greater intention to adopt digital tools and services, whereas larger households and longer farming years reduced adoption intentions. Beyond demographic factors, perceived barriers, including high cost, inaccessibility, inadequate expertise, and insufficient knowledge of digital tools, substantially lowered the likelihood of adopting digital farming tools. Farmers who are aware of or have participated in digital agriculture initiatives, however, are more likely to express adoption intentions. Considering these findings, we recommend that stakeholders (such as policymakers, extension officers, NGOs, and agri‐tech developers) prioritize strategies that reduce the challenges facing smallholder digitalization in sub‐Saharan Africa and develop digital solutions that are locally suitable, gender‐responsive, affordable, and farmer‐centered to enhance and ensure the meaningful diffusion of digital agriculture innovations in the region.