Digital Literacy and Crop Productivity: Evidence from cross-sectional data in Hai and Moshi Districts, Kilimanjaro-Tanzania

Abstract

Access to information through digital platforms particularly social media has the potential to improve agricultural productivity, hence improvement of smallholder farmers' well-being. This is anticipated where farmers can significantly access, understand, evaluate and apply information obtained in agricultural-related activities. However, this depends, inter alia, on the extent to which farmers are digital literate, despite notable access and general use of digital platforms by farmers, there is a need to empirically understand how farmers digital literacy contributes to crop productivity . The study explored the use of social media and the Internet through digital platforms by smallholder farmers and determined the contribution of digital literacy to agricultural productivity. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design; data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 200 purposefully selected smallholder farmers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect complementary data. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to explore the use of the internet and social media, multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of digital literacy to agricultural productivity. The results show that 70.5 per cent of smallholder farmers have access to social media. However, the majority (95%) lack awareness of agricultural information apps. Although digital literacy had a negative but significant effect on maize productivity, it nonetheless had a positive and significant effect on common beans' productivity. It is concluded that smallholder social media and the internet contribute to agricultural productivity. It is recommended that the agricultural and ICT departments in Hai and Moshi districts and other interested stakeholders should conduct awareness campaigns and training in rural areas on accessing information concerning agricultural activities through the use of digital platforms towards improved productivity.