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Assessment of Digital Literacy among Farmers for Accessing Agricultural Extension Services

Abstract

Digital literacy refers to the ability of individuals to access, understand, evaluate, and use digital technologies effectively for communication, information, and other practical activities. In agriculture, digital literacy is becoming increasingly important as farmers gain access to extension information through mobile phones, social media platforms, agricultural websites, mobile applications, and other digital communication channels. Farmers with adequate digital skills may be better positioned to access timely agricultural information and communicate with extension professionals beyond traditional face-to-face methods. This study will assess the level of digital literacy among farmers for accessing agricultural extension services. It will examine farmers’ ability to use digital devices and platforms to obtain agricultural information and communicate with extension agents. The study will also determine the extent to which farmers use digital technologies to access extension advice, agricultural news, production information, market information, weather information, and other relevant agricultural services. The study will focus on farmers’ knowledge and use of smartphones, mobile internet, social media platforms, agricultural applications, online information sources, digital communication tools, and mobile-based extension services. It will assess farmers’ ability to search for agricultural information, evaluate the reliability of digital information, communicate with extension personnel, access online training materials, and use digital platforms for agricultural decision-making. Challenges affecting farmers’ digital literacy and access to digital extension services will also be examined. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from farmers using structured questionnaires designed to assess their digital skills, access to digital devices, use of digital platforms, and ability to obtain agricultural extension services through digital channels. The data collected will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Correlation and regression analysis will also be used to examine the relationship between farmers’ digital literacy and their access to agricultural extension services. The study is expected to reveal varying levels of digital literacy among farmers, with differences in their ability to operate digital devices, navigate online platforms, search for agricultural information, communicate digitally, and assess the reliability of information obtained online. Farmers with higher levels of digital literacy may demonstrate greater use of digital agricultural extension services. However, limited internet access, high data costs, inadequate digital devices, poor network connectivity, limited digital training, and difficulties understanding online agricultural information may restrict effective access among some farmers. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, government agricultural agencies, digital agriculture organisations, non-governmental organisations, telecommunications providers, and researchers. The findings may provide useful information for designing digital literacy programmes and improving farmers’ ability to access agricultural extension services through modern communication technologies. The study may also assist extension organisations in developing simple, accessible, and farmer-friendly digital platforms for agricultural information dissemination. The study concludes that digital literacy is an important factor in enabling farmers to access and effectively use digital agricultural extension services. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be provided with practical digital literacy training focused on agricultural information access, online communication, and the use of digital extension platforms. Agricultural extension agencies should also promote accessible digital tools, provide relevant training materials, and strengthen digital communication channels to improve farmers’ access to timely and reliable agricultural extension information.

Keywords: Digital literacy, farmers, agricultural extension services, digital agriculture, agricultural information, digital skills, mobile technology, smartphones, internet access, digital extension, agricultural communication, online information, mobile applications, information access, extension services.