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Effect of Extension Training on Farmers’ Adoption of Digital Farm Mapping Technologies

Abstract

Digital farm mapping technologies are modern agricultural tools used to create, store, and analyze spatial information about farms and agricultural fields. These technologies can help farmers identify farm boundaries, measure field areas, locate farm resources, monitor land use, and support farm planning and decision-making. Extension training can provide farmers with the knowledge and practical skills required to understand and use digital mapping technologies effectively in agricultural production. This study will examine the effect of extension training on farmers’ adoption of digital farm mapping technologies. It will assess the extent to which training programmes, practical demonstrations, and technical guidance influence farmers’ willingness and ability to use digital mapping tools for farm management. The study will also examine the relationship between farmers’ exposure to extension training and their adoption of digital farm mapping technologies. The study will focus on extension training activities such as practical demonstrations, workshops, field-based training, farm visits, group learning, and digital agricultural information. It will examine farmers’ adoption of smartphone-based mapping applications, GPS-enabled mapping tools, digital field boundary mapping, farm area measurement, digital farm location recording, spatial data collection, and digital field monitoring. Attention will also be given to farmers’ knowledge of the uses, benefits, operational requirements, and challenges associated with digital farm mapping technologies. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their exposure to extension training and adoption of digital farm mapping technologies. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation will be used to summarize the data, while correlation and regression analysis will be used to examine the relationship between extension training and farmers’ adoption of digital farm mapping technologies. The frequency and extent of farmers’ use of different mapping technologies will also be assessed. The study is expected to reveal that extension training has a positive effect on farmers’ adoption of digital farm mapping technologies. Farmers who receive practical training, demonstrations, and continuous technical guidance may demonstrate greater willingness and ability to use digital mapping tools for field boundary identification, farm measurement, location recording, and farm planning. However, limited digital literacy, inadequate access to smartphones and GPS-enabled devices, poor internet connectivity, cost of technology, and insufficient technical support may constrain adoption. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, digital agriculture providers, technology developers, government agricultural agencies, research institutions, farmer organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The findings may assist extension agencies in developing practical digital agriculture training programmes that improve farmers’ capacity to use mapping technologies for farm management. Increased adoption may support more accurate farm planning, resource management, field monitoring, record keeping, and agricultural decision-making. The study concludes that extension training can contribute to improved adoption of digital farm mapping technologies by providing farmers with relevant knowledge, practical skills, and technical support. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen digital agriculture training through hands-on demonstrations, field-based learning, simplified training materials, and continuous advisory support. Collaboration among extension organizations, technology providers, research institutions, government agencies, and farmer groups should also be encouraged to improve farmers’ access to appropriate digital mapping tools and technical assistance.

Keywords: Extension training, farmers’ adoption, digital farm mapping, mapping technologies, digital agriculture, farm mapping, GPS technology, farm boundaries, spatial information, agricultural extension, digital tools, farm planning, field monitoring, precision agriculture, agricultural technology.