ICT Adoption Challenges: Case of Rural Small-Scale Farmers In The Amathole District Municipality Of South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to understand how socio-economic characteristics can serve as a barrier to ICT adoption or usage among rural small-scale farmers in the Amathole District Municipality (ADM). The study utilises two main approaches to survey 57 small-scale farmers in the rural areas of the ADM, namely quantitative and non-probability sampling methods. The study identified potential barriers to the selected farmers adopting ICT as most of the survey farmers are illiterate, and few have attained basic education and gone past secondary school. Other factors also identified are the lack of access to modern ICT and its perceived usefulness, which many farmers see as facilitating communication. Cost, the lack of computer skills and Internet connectivity were also identified by most respondents as a problem that could hamper ICT adoption. The study recommends that to ensure effective use of ICT among rural, small-scale farmers in the ADM, the first step is for stakeholders, policymakers, and agencies to come up with intervention programmes such as e-skilling to address the reported barriers.