Digital inequalities among smallholder farmers in Benin: Determinants of attitude, material access, skills and usage

• Published in: Information development
• Main Authors: Gouthon, Morrisson, Gouroubera, Mori W., Tama-Imorou, Clarisse, Moumouni-Moussa, Ismail
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2024
• ISSN: 0266-6669; 1741-6469
• DOI: 10.1177/02666669241280411

Digital inequalities in the agricultural sector have become a prominent concern since the advent of digital technologies. To address these inequalities among farmers, it is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of their nature and underlying determinants. Drawing upon Van Dijk's theory of resources and appropriation, this study was conducted in Benin, a West African country, involving a sample of 307 smallholder farmers. Structural equation models are used to analyze the data. Firstly, the results reveal that the attitude of farmers is positively associated with their material access to digital technology, which, in turn, fosters the development of their digital skills encompassing both formal and strategic skills. These skills propel the integration of digital technology into agricultural practices. Farmers’ attitudes not only influence their access to digital tools but also significantly shape the development of their skill sets and the effective use of digital technologies in agriculture. Consequently, attitude emerges as an important factor in appropriating digital technology. Furthermore, this study identifies personal characteristics of farmers, including gender, age, income, level of education, and the presence of school-going children in their households, as factors influencing digital inequalities. Policies should foster positive attitudes, enhance digital skills, ensure equitable access, and address gender-specific barriers to reduce digital inequalities among smallholder farmers in agriculture.