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Assessment of Farmers’ Adoption of Digital Record-Keeping Applications

Abstract

Digital record-keeping applications are increasingly being used in agriculture to help farmers maintain accurate and accessible records of farm activities and financial transactions. These applications can support the recording of farm inputs, labour costs, production quantities, sales, expenses, inventory, and other important farm information. The use of digital records may improve the organisation of farm information and support better planning, monitoring, and decision-making. Assessing farmers’ adoption of digital record-keeping applications is therefore important for understanding the extent to which digital technologies are being incorporated into farm management. This study will assess farmers’ adoption of digital record-keeping applications. It will determine the level of farmers’ awareness, access, and use of digital applications for maintaining farm records. The study will also examine the frequency with which farmers use these applications and the types of farm information recorded through digital platforms. The study will focus on farmers’ use of mobile farm record applications, spreadsheet applications, accounting applications, digital farm management platforms, and other electronic tools for record keeping. It will examine their use for recording farm inputs, production activities, labour, expenses, sales, income, inventory, farm assets, and financial transactions. The study will also consider farmers’ digital literacy, smartphone ownership, internet access, availability of technical support, perceived usefulness, ease of use, cost of applications, and access to agricultural extension information. 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 awareness, access, frequency of use, and adoption of digital record-keeping applications. The collected data will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while correlation and regression analysis may be used to examine relationships between relevant factors and farmers’ adoption of digital record-keeping applications. The study is expected to reveal varying levels of adoption of digital record-keeping applications among farmers. Farmers with greater digital literacy, access to smartphones, reliable internet services, and exposure to agricultural extension education may demonstrate higher levels of adoption. Digital applications may improve farmers’ ability to maintain organised records and monitor farm expenses, production, sales, and income. However, challenges such as limited digital skills, poor network connectivity, high data costs, lack of suitable devices, limited technical knowledge, and concerns about data security may restrict adoption. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, digital agriculture developers, farmer organisations, financial institutions, government agencies, policymakers, and researchers. The findings may provide useful information on the extent to which farmers are adopting digital record-keeping applications and the challenges affecting their use. Extension agents and agricultural development organisations may use the findings to develop practical digital record-keeping training programmes that can improve farmers’ capacity to maintain reliable farm information. The study concludes that digital record-keeping applications can support improved organisation and management of farm information when farmers have the knowledge, skills, and resources required to use them effectively. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension programmes provide farmers with practical training and demonstrations on the use of appropriate digital record-keeping applications. Relevant stakeholders should also promote affordable digital tools, improve farmers’ digital literacy, strengthen technical support, and encourage secure management of farm records to facilitate wider adoption.

Keywords: Farmers’ adoption, digital record keeping, record-keeping applications, digital agriculture, farm records, farm management, digital technology, mobile applications, farm expenses, production records, sales records, financial records, digital literacy, agricultural extension, farm information.