Assessing mobile phone use in farming: The case of Nigerian rural farmers

Abstract

Most existing literature in the field of mobile phones for agriculture and rural development adopted an economic stance that focused mainly on agriculture marketing and pricing. Little attention has been given to other areas of the farming value chain. To address this shortcoming, this study adopts an interpretive approach, to assess the influence of mobile phone use in farming and its effect on the livelihoods of poor rural farmers. Analysing interviews from farmers in a rural Nigerian agrarian community based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), the findings reveal that the ease of communications, social interactions, improved farm skills and knowledge afforded by mobile phone use leads to improved opportunities for farmers. These opportunities resonate in the entire farming value chain thereby enhancing farmers’ livelihoods. However, some human capital deficiencies and contextual factors bordering on language barrier, lack of capability and awareness in the use of mobile phone features and functionalities inhibit farmers from benefiting optimally from the leverages provided by mobile phones. This calls for policies geared towards capacity building and sensitization of the rural populace on the prospects of mobile phone use in farming.