SMALLHOLDER FARMERS’ INTENTION TO USE AND THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARDS ELECTRONIC PAYMENT PLATFORMS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL OF THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA

Abstract

Smallholder farmers in Nigeria have not been substantially influenced by the country's growing usage of payment systems, and it is unclear what these farmers think of the electronic payment platforms available in the study region. This study assessed smallholder farmers’ intentions to use and attitudes toward electronic payment platforms in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Ninety-three smallholder farmers were sampled using a multi-stage sampling technique. The study adopted descriptive statistics, the Likert scale, and the Probit model to achieve the specific objectives. The result showed that the majority of the respondents were single with an average age and household size of approximately 38 years and 6 persons respectively. Most of the smallholder farmers in the study area showed intention to use electronic payment platforms for their transactions. The farmers also expressed confidence in using electronic payment platforms and strongly agreed that the use of electronic payment platforms is risky and therefore preferred human tellers to electronic payment platforms. The Probit model analysis revealed that the coefficient of education and income (P<0.05) positively and statistically influenced farmers’ intention to use electronic payment platforms. The study suggests that programs be developed in the study area to facilitate electronic payment options, increase farmers' income, and inform farmers of the advantages of using electronic payment platforms for utility and financial transactions in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.