Mobile Phone Ownership Research Articles

Understanding patterns of use and preferences for technology among people who use opioids in Colombia: implications for mHealth interventions

ABSTRACT Background Colombia has seen an increase in heroin use, leading to higher HIV rates and challenges in accessing treatment for people who use opioids (PWUO). With widespread mobile phone ownership, technology-based interventions show promise in Colombia. This study aims to understand technology use patterns among PWUO in Colombia, aiding the development of targeted mHealth interventions for better treatment outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) from harm reduction centers, inpatient detoxification units, and methadone maintenance treatment programs in three Colombian cities with high OUD prevalence. The survey covered sociodemographic characteristics, OUD treatment receipt, technology ownership and use patterns, and preferences for technology-based interventions. Results Among 247 participants, the majority were men, single, with a mean age of 29.9 years, and mainly had high school education. Smartphone ownership was reported by 43.6%, with preferences for social networking apps, internet browsers, and text messaging. Bivariate analysis showed associations between technology ownership and factors such as age, education, sex, and household stability. Conclusion These findings provide insights into the technology use patterns and preferences among PWUO in Colombia, highlighting implications for designing and implementing effective technology-based interventions to enhance OUD treatment outcomes.

Mobile phone ownership, social media use, and substance use at ages 11–13 in the ABCD study

IntroductionThere is ongoing concern about the impact of increasing use of social media and digital devices on unhealthy behaviors such as substance use in youth. Mobile phone and social media use have been associated with substance use in adolescent and young adult samples, but few studies have evaluated these relationships in younger samples. MethodsThis secondary analysis of data drawn from the ABCD Study examined associations between youth-reported mobile phone ownership and social media use at age 11–12 and use of alcohol, nicotine/tobacco, and cannabis over the next 18 months. ResultsLongitudinal logistic regression was used to test the hypothesis that phone ownership and social media use at age 11–12 would predict substance use over time. Phone ownership was associated with greater odds of alcohol and nicotine/tobacco use, and social media use was associated with greater odds of using nicotine/tobacco and cannabis. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that pre-teen youth who own mobile phones and those who use social media may be at greater risk for substance use. Further research is needed to specify mechanisms by which this association occurs and thus inform prevention and intervention efforts.

Training learners to use Quizlet vocabulary activities on mobile phones in Vietnam with Facebook

Mobile phone ownership among university students in Vietnam has reached almost 100%, exceeding that of Internet-capable desktop computers. This has made them increasingly popular to allow learners to carry out learning activities outside of the classroom, but some studies have suggested that learners are not always willing to engage in activities outside of the classroom (Kim et al., 2013). Recent research has suggested that providing training to learners that includes not only how but also why activities are important can improve learner engagement in mobile-based activities (Stockwell & Hubbard, 2014). In this paper, Vietnamese learners of English engaged in vocabulary and grammar tasks using the Quizlet app on their mobile phones outside of class time. Learners were provided with technical training in class, while ongoing strategic and pedagogical training were provided through a combination of in-class activities and interactions through a dedicated Facebook page over a 5-week period. Usage patterns of the site were recorded through a learning journal and interactions on the Facebook page were analysed to determine the nature of the discussions that took place. Learner attitudes towards the tasks and the training were examined through pre- and post-questionnaires and a focus group discussion. The results are discussed in terms of the problems encountered, and some suggestions for providing appropriate training to learning through mobile phones outside of class through social networking.

Intention to participate in smartphone-based data collection: the case of smallholder farmers in Uganda

ABSTRACT Smartphone technology is increasingly being used to conduct surveys, including in low-income countries where the timely collection of socio-economic data is of great importance. This study investigated the intention of Ugandan smallholder farmers to participate in smartphone-based data collection (SPDC). The data was collected through a cross-sectional survey of 306 smallholder farmers. The results show that the willingness of farmers to participate in SPDC is high. The intention to participate in SPDC is directly influenced by attitude, subjective norms and perceived enjoyment. Indirect influences are perceived usefulness, perceived trustworthiness and perceived cost through their effects on attitude. Similarly, perceived ease of use indirectly influences intention through its effects on perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment. Statistically significant differences were found in terms of age, gender, mobile phone ownership and education. These results show the great potential of SPDC for data collection in Uganda for researchers, policy makers, agribusinesses and stakeholders.

India's digital dividend: A strategic opportunity and challenge

India has been on a digital growth trajectory for a few years, prompted by its goal of becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy by 2025. The Indian digital revolution has resulted in a new wave of digital consumption and dividends. This manuscript examines the transformative journey of India's digital revolution, highlighting the strategic opportunities and challenges it encompasses. The Digital India initiative, a cornerstone government policy, has been instrumental in this transformative process, aiming to digitize various aspects of life and governance. Despite a significant increase in internet users and the successful launch of numerous digital projects, a substantial digital divide remains, characterized by disparities in mobile phone ownership, internet access, and digital literacy across different genders, geographical locations, and income groups. Using a qualitative research methodology, this study investigates the economic impact of digitalization on the Indian economy and identifies factors contributing to the digital divide. An extensive literature review and qualitative content analysis identified five primary themes: the digital profile of India, digitization and economic growth, digitalization and economic variables, digitalization across sectors, and the digital divide. These themes elucidate India's progress in digital literacy and financial inclusion, the economic advantages of digitalization, and the obstacles to achieving digital inclusivity. The manuscript proposes a developmental framework with recommendations for policymakers, business leaders, and other stakeholders to mitigate the digital divide and maximize the benefits of digital dividends. It underscores the necessity of a comprehensive digital strategy, the enhancement of digital infrastructure, the development of digital human resources, the promotion of digital literacy, and the fostering of digital entrepreneurial capacity.

Association of crop commercialization and rural households' multidimensional poverty using targeted maximum likelihood estimation

Recent evidence shows the highest prevalence of multidimensional poverty in the world. To alleviate poverty, Ethiopia is investing in stimulating agricultural commercialization for poverty reduction, driving sustainable economic growth, and creating jobs. Therefore, this study investigated the causal relationship between crop commercialization and multidimensional poverty across Ethiopian rural households using the Ethiopia Socioeconomic Survey 2018/19 data, which included 1129 crop commercialized and 1585 completely subsistence rural households. Moreover, this study also examined the causal effect of crop commercialization on the multidimensional poverty mediated by mobile phone ownership status. The study used the double robust method of the augmented inverse probability of treatment weighted (AIPTW) and targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) methods. The result showed that crop commercialization has an association with multidimensional poverty. Specifically, the TMLE with a default super learner model estimates were the most precise and suggest that the prevalence of risk of being multidimensionally poor among rural households who were crop commercialized is 12.2 % lower than for those who were completely subsistence households. Thus, it is important to have more robust policies like crop commercialization to target rural multidimensional poverty reduction. Moreover, the controlled direct effect estimation analyses showed that crop-commercialized rural households reduced the adjusted risk of multidimensional poverty by; 12 % for those who owned mobile phones and 7.8 % for those who did not. To ensure sustainable livelihoods for rural multidimensional poor households, it is necessary to have a multidisciplinary policy intervention to promote crop commercialization through the spread of mobile phones in rural areas.

Does livelihood diversification improve food security among rural households?: evidence from Ghana

ABSTRACT Livelihood diversification (LD) is crucial for rural households due to increasing climate variability and declining farm incomes in the global south. Literature has extensively documented the benefits of LD in emerging economies. However, there is still a gap in the econometric evidence of LD on the food security of rural households in Ghana. This study addresses this gap by examining the factors that influence LD using the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS 7) data collected from 133 rural households in Northern Ghana. Results from the censored Tobit regression model, multiple linear regression, and Simpson Diversification Index (SDI) indicated that diversification averaged 0.313 and ranged from 0.000 to 0.709 (zero to 70.9%). Total food expenditures (TFE) measured as a proxy of food security declined at low levels of diversification. Beyond the diversification level of 0.480, total food expenditure increased steadily. The findings revealed that only 24.6% of the households had diversification scores higher than the turning point of 0.480. The Tobit model also showed that remittance income, technical education, household size, marital status, access to extension services, and ownership of mobile phones were significant drivers of LD. The findings have demonstrated that LD improves food security in rural Ghana.

The Threat of Cultural Degradation Due to Tourism Activities (Case Study on Tourist Guides from Baduy Dalam Tribe at Banten, Indonesia)

With the inclusion of Baduy in the list of Rural Tourism, it also brings tourists with the habits they bring. Tourism needs and tourist behavior such as bringing mobile phones, taking pictures are feared to affect and are considered to threaten the purity of teachings and beliefs in Baduy. The novelty of this research is to fill the gap of existing problems or a void of knowledge, lack of literature that focuses on the Threat of Cultural Degradation because of the existence of Baduy Dalam Tribe Residents who have activities as tour guides, and they are suspected of having cell phones and Instagram social media which are considered contrary to the customary rules of the Baduy Tribe. The research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Data collection through interviews, observation and documentation. The data obtained will be analyzed using the Miles & Huberman interactive model. Baduy customary rules strictly prohibit the use of technology, but local guides from the Baduy Dalam tribe are found using mobile phones and Instagram social media to attract tourists to use their services. There is a social change in local guides as they adjust to the needs of tourists. They use this technology secretly because they realize that they have violated customary rules. The customary leader explained that what happened to the local guide had indirectly violated customary rules. The conclusion of this research is that there is a threat of cultural degradation due to tourism activities, especially for tour guides from the Baduy Dalam Tribe. Mobile phone ownership and the use of Instagram social media to attract tourists to use guiding services are considered contrary to customary rules.

Utilization of maternal health care services among pastoralist communities in Marsabit County, Kenya: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundImproving maternal healthcare services is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-3), which aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. There is a consensus among different researchers that proper utilization of maternal healthcare services can improve the reproductive health of women, and this can be achieved by providing Antenatal Care (ANC) during pregnancy, Health Facility Delivery (HFD), and Postnatal Care (PNC) to all pregnant women. The main aim of this study was to investigate the utilization and factors associated with maternal and child healthcare services among women of reproductive age in the pastoralist communities in Kenya.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 180 pastoralist women who gave birth in the past two years across ten mobile villages in Marsabit County between 2nd January and 29th February 2019. Three key outcomes were analyzed, whether they attended ANC 4+ visits, delivered at HF, and received PNC. Pearson χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted by IBM SPSS27.0 following Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsOf the 180 eligible pastoralist women (mean age 27.44 ± 5.13 years), 92.2% were illiterate, 93.9% were married, 33.3% were in polygamy, and 14.4% had mobile phones. The median commuting distance was 15.00 (10–74) km, 41.7% attended ANC 4+, 33.3% HFD, and 42.8% PNC. Those women residing close (≤ 15 km) to a health facility had a threefold higher ANC 4+ (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.47–6.53), 2.8-fold higher HFD (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.34–5.84), and 2.5-fold higher PNC (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.19–5.22) probability. The likelihood was 30-fold higher for ANC 4+ (OR 29.88, 95% CI 6.68–133.62), 2.5-fold higher for HFD (OR 2.56, 95% CI 0.99–6.63), and 60-fold higher for PNC (OR 60.46, 95% CI 10.43–350.55) in women with mobile phones. A monogamous marriage meant a fivefold higher ANC 4+ (OR 5.17, 95% CI 1.88–14.23), 1.6-fold higher HFD (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.77–3.62), and a sevenfold higher PNC (OR 7.05, 95% CI 2.35–21.19) likelihood. Hosmer Lemeshow test indicated a good-fitting model for ANC 4+, HFD, and PNC (p = 0.790, p = 0.441, p = 0.937, respectively).ConclusionIn conclusion, the utilization of three essential maternal health services is low. Geographic proximity, monogamous marriage, and possession of mobile phones were significant predictors. Therefore, it is recommended that stakeholders take the initiative to bring this service closer to the pastoralist community by providing mobile health outreach and health education.

Aspects of mobile phone use and behavioural intentions for learning in rural South African schools

This paper focuses on a study conducted in two historically disadvantaged schools (deep-rural and semi-urban) in South Africa where the rising access to mobile technology implies that the long-standing promise of mobile learning is becoming accessible despite the lack of recent research. This research aims to investigate the relationship between the type of school and various aspects of mobile phone use as well as differences in behavioural intention constructs to use mobile phones for learning. After a literature review, several hypotheses were developed. Using non-probability sampling techniques and the survey method, data was obtained from 128 participants, 79 from the deep-rural school and 49 from the semi-urban school. The semi-urban school exhibited slightly higher percentages in all aspects of cell phone use. Outside of mobile phone ownership and Internet access, all associations were significant. Significant differences were reported in favour of the semi-urban school for all constructs regarding the behavioural intention to use mobile phones for learning. However, the future of m-learning appears to be more promising than reported in earlier research by reporting positive behaviour from students in both schools. Critical stakeholders in education should take note and move from the goals of improving broad access to explicit objectives to implement m-learning in rural schools.

Vaccination Coverage and Predictors of Vaccination among Children Aged 12-23 Months in the Pastoralist Communities of Ethiopia: A Mixed Methods Design.

This study assessed vaccination coverage and its associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in pastoralist Ethiopia. It was conducted in three woredas of the Afar region using a community-based cross-sectional mixed methods design with quantitative and qualitative methods. A total of 413 mothers with children aged 12-23 months participated in the quantitative study via a simple random sampling technique. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with vaccination, and thematic analysis techniques were used for qualitative data. The percentage of patients who received full vaccination was 25%. Based on vaccination card observations, the dropout rate from Pentavalent-1 to Pentavalent-3 was found to be 2.9%. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between mothers and caretakers with formal education, those who owned mobile phones, had antenatal care (ANC) visits, and birthed at a health facility with full vaccination. The overall proportion of full immunization is lower than the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings suggest that programs and policy makers should prioritize improving the access and enrolment of women and caretakers, promoting mobile phone ownership, and encouraging ANC visits and the promotion of health facility deliveries, as these are associated with higher rates of immunization.

Can digital technology promote market participation among smallholder farmers?

Abstract Digital technology holds significant potential for enhancing business efficiency in agricultural marketing. However, empirical research on the use of digital technology among smallholder farmers engaged in staple crop marketing in Sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. Recognizing the pivotal role of digital technology in agriculture, this study aims to analyse and synthesize existing knowledge regarding the impact of mobile phones on market participation among smallholder farmers. Through a comprehensive analysis, we seek to provide a robust understanding that can inform policies and programs aimed at enhancing smallholder market integration. To achieve this objective, we collected cross-sectional data from 360 farmers in southeast Nigeria and implemented a double hurdle model to analyse market participation decisions and the extent of farmers’ involvement in staple crop markets. In addition to traditional econometric methods, we employed propensity score matching to further investigate the impact of mobile phone ownership on market participation. Our analysis revealed that ICT tools, particularly mobile phones and radios, significantly influence both the decision and intensity of market participation among smallholder farmers. Specifically, mobile phones were found to play a crucial role in facilitating access to market pricing information and disseminating knowledge on improved production methods. Given the volatility of farm prices, the timely dissemination of market information through mobile phones is essential for farmers to make informed decisions. With a high percentage of mobile phone ownership and substantial investments in mobile networks in Nigeria, the digitalization of extension services and marketing information delivery systems could catalyse rapid improvements in agribusiness and marketing. This shift towards digital platforms has the potential to address information asymmetry, particularly among smallholder farmers, thereby fostering greater market integration and economic empowerment within rural communities.

Drivers of Small-Scale Farmers' Adoption of Mobile Phone Technology for Rice Production and Marketing in Dodoma Region

Despite the benefits of Mobile Phone Technology (MPT) in enhancing agricultural communication in Tanzania, a significant gap exists between the rise in mobile phone subscriptions and the actual adoption of MPT by farmers for agricultural production and marketing. This study utilised multinomial logistic regression to analyse factors influencing MPT adoption among 454 small-scale farmers in Bahi District, Dodoma Region. The findings indicated that 62 percent of the farmers adopted MPT, while 38 percent did not. Key factors influencing MPT adoption for rice production communication only included; having household members under 15 years, mobile phone ownership, time spent on using mobile phones, land size, use of hired labour, market distance and distance to all-weather roads. This study revealed that significant determinants for the adoption for rice marketing communication only were farmer’s sex, time spent on mobile phones and market distance. Further, the study showed that significant factors for the adoption for combined rice production and marketing communication were the farmer’s education level, mobile phone ownership, land size, use of family and hired labour, and market distance. Understanding these factors provides a foundation for developing interventions to increase MPT adoption among key stakeholders. Increased adoption of MPT will improve access to market information and agricultural practices in rural areas, thereby enhancing rice production and marketing and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

Antenatal Care Visits, Institutional Births, and Associated Risk Factors in Afghanistan: Insights from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022-2023.

Insufficient use of antenatal care (ANC) services and institutional births services can elevate the maternal mortality risk in limited resource settings. Hence, the key objective of this study was to evaluate the potential association between the frequency of ANC visits and institutional birth services in Afghanistan, while also identifying other sociodemographic factors that may exert influence. Furthermore, we explored factors associated with the attendance of women at ANC visits during their pregnancy. We employed data from the most recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Afghanistan in 2022 to 2023 with a total of 8096 women aged 15 to 49. A complex survey weight-adjusted logistic regression model was used to examine factors related to institutional births, and a multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to assess the relationships between sociodemographic factors and ANC visits, adjusting for survey weights, cluster effects, and strata. Approximately 40% of the sample (n = 3247) had undergone 4 or more ANC visits, and 74.4% (n = 6,022) had opted for institutional birth. Women's higher education was found to be associated with ANC visits. The area of residence, wealth index, education levels of women, ownership of mobile phones, number of children, and number of ANC visits were associated with institutional births. Compared with women with no or one ANC visit, those with more than 3 visits had 31% higher odds (adjusted odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10-1.57) of accessing institutional births. Our findings indicate a significant association between ANC visits and use of institutional birth care. These findings carry implications for advancing safe motherhood and childbirth by enhancing women's social status.

Does livestock-crop diversification improve food and nutrition security? Evidence from Eastern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Pastoral and agro-pastoral households are the most vulnerable parts of the population to climate change-induced shocks and they are increasingly subject to acute food and nutrition insecurity. We identified drivers of livestock-crop diversification and examined its effects on improving households’ food and nutrition security using cross sectional data collected from 258 households across five districts in the East Hararghe zone in Ethiopia. Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) analysis was used to identify factors associated with the households’ food and nutrition security outcomes and estimate the causal effects of livestock-crop diversification on the households’ food and nutrition security. Our results show that land certification, mobile phone ownership, and access to pastoral training centres were positively and significantly associated with livestock-crop diversification. In contrast, being located in Meyu Muluke and Kumbi districts were negatively and significantly associated with livestock-crop diversification, compared to Chinaksen district. The average treatment effect estimations suggest that livestock-crop diversification has positively and significantly improved diversified households’ nutritional security outcome. The findings also reveal that non-diversified households’ food insecurity would have reduced had they diversified. Nonetheless, livestock-crop diversification is neither enough to pull farm households fully out of food and nutrition insecurity nor the only factor influencing farm households’ food and nutrition security outcomes. Hence, there is also a need to strengthen access to physical infrastructure, credit facilities, extension services, provision of farm inputs, and pastoral training centres to reduce food and nutrition insecurity in the study area.

The Impact of Mobile Phone Ownership on Exposure and Attitude Toward Advertising Among Children

Este estudio analiza la incidencia de la propiedad del teléfono móvil en la exposición y actitud hacia la publicidad que los niños reciben por este dispositivo, una variable poco abordada hasta este momento aunque sea relevante para la personalización de los anuncios móviles. Se realizaron 1070 encuestas online entre menores de 10 y 14 años residentes en España y se pudo comprobar que la propiedad del teléfono móvil introduce diferencias significativas en la exposición a publicidad en Instagram, Spotify, TikTok y Twitch. Con relación a la actitud, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los propietarios y no propietarios. La predisposición preferente en ambos casos es ignorar los mensajes publicitarios.

Dampak Kepemilikan Ponsel terhadap Pendapatan Petani: Bukti dari Mikrodata di Indonesia

Dampak Kepemilikan Ponsel terhadap Pendapatan Petani: Bukti dari Mikrodata di Indonesia

Role of Women's Empowerment in Improving the Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Years of Age: An Insight From the National Family Health Survey-5.

Background Childhood malnutrition remains a global concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and is known to create an intergenerational cycle of illness and poverty. Women's empowerment has gained global recognition as a potential catalyst for improving child nutrition. The objective of this research was to investigate the association between women's empowerment factors and the nutritional status of children under five years of age. Methods The study used data from the National Family Health Survey-5, conducted in India between 2019 and 2021 by the International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai. A weighted sample of 29,491 mother-child pairs was analyzed. The odds ratio for women's empowerment and sociodemographic factors associated with the nutritional status of children under five years of age was calculated using Pearson's chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Results The study foundthat the sex of the child (OR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.017 to 1.117; p-value: 0.008), birth order (OR = 0.824, 95% CI: 0.780 to 0.871; p-value < 0.001), education of the mother (OR = 1.356, 95% CI: 1.255 to 1.464; p-value < 0.001), education of the father (OR = 1.227, 95% CI: 1.140 to 1.320; p-value < 0.001), having a bank or savings account that she uses (OR = 1.151, 95% CI: 1.084 to 1.221; p-value < 0.001), having a mobile phone that she uses (OR = 1.184, 95% CI: 1.125 to 1.246; p-value < 0.001), and wealth index (OR = 1.597, 95% CI: 1.514 to 1.684; p-value < 0.001) were significant predictors of undernutrition in children under the age of five (U5). Conclusion Women's empowerment factors play a significant role in improving childhood nutrition. In the study, male sex, higher birth order, lower parental education, poor wealth index, maternal lack ofaccess to a bank or a savings account, and lack of mobile phone ownership were found to besignificant predictors of undernutrition in children U5. The findings underscore the importance of family planning, financial inclusion, access to mobile phones, and higher education for women as important factors that can help improve the nutritional status of children under five years of age. Policymakers can utilize these insights to make targeted strategies for women's empowerment, thus improving the nutritional status of children. However, being a secondary data analysis, our research is constrained by the variables available in the dataset. Further research is required to better comprehend the complex relationship between women empowerment and child nutrition.

Determinants of financial inclusion in Southeast Asia

ABSTRACT This study examines the determinants of financial inclusion – in terms of bank account ownership, formal saving, and formal borrowing – among countries in Southeast Asia. Using the World Bank Global Findex dataset, we document low rates of financial inclusion in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines. Individuals’ access to finance through borrowing is also generally low. Results show that income, educational attainment, being employed, and mobile phone ownership are positively associated with all three financial inclusion indicators. Age effects are nonlinear and vary across the financial inclusion indicators. Post-regression estimates suggest that the likelihood of formal account ownership is highest for individuals between ages 25 and 35, while formal saving and formal borrowing is most prevalent for those between ages 35 and 65. In relation, we find that the key barriers to opening a bank account in these Southeast Asian countries include costs, bank proximity, lack of trust in financial institutions, and individuals’ inability to complete required documentation. Younger individuals and middle-income individuals are more hesitant to open a formal account if a family member has an account already. Policy interventions targeted at breaking down some of these barriers and widening access to finance would boost growth and inclusion in developing countries.

Storm in a teacup: implications of mobile phone literacy on sustainable smallholder agri-food supply chains in developing economies

PurposeThis study explores digital transformation in the tea supply chain within developing economies, with a focus on smallholder tea producers in Sri Lanka. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Among the tea producers, smallholder tea producers account for a substantial portion of total tea production in several countries. Mobile phones play a significant role in providing smallholder producers with access to crucial agricultural information, markets and financial services.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a deductive approach, analysing mobile phone ownership, literacy, experience and perception among smallholder tea producers. The chi-squared test of independence and hierarchical clustering methods were used to test the hypotheses and address the research questions.FindingsThe study identifies four clusters of smallholder tea producers as Basic Tech Adopters, Digital Laggards, Skeptical Feature Phone Users and Tech-savvy Adopters based on their characteristics towards mobile-based technologies. Approximately 75% of the surveyed sample, which included both tech-savvy and basic-tech adopters, showed a positive attitude toward adopting mobile-based agricultural technologies.Practical implicationsThe study suggests developing targeted strategies and policies to enhance the productivity of the smallholder tea production process in developing economies. The study highlights the importance of awareness, access, affordability and availability when implementing digital services for businesses at the base of the pyramid, such as tea smallholdings in developing economies.Originality/valueThe present study aims to address the lack of data-driven empirical studies on the use of mobile phones in smallholder settings. The findings of this study enable the enhancement of entrepreneurship within the tea production supply chain, especially, within stakeholders who deliver digital transformation support services.