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Effect of Agricultural Advisory Services on Farmers’ Adoption of Digital Farm Management Practices

Abstract

Digital farm management practices involve the use of digital technologies and information systems to support farm planning, production, monitoring, record keeping, resource management, marketing, and decision-making. Technologies such as mobile agricultural applications, digital farm records, GPS-based tools, weather information platforms, remote sensing, online advisory services, and other digital solutions can provide farmers with timely information and improve the efficiency of farm operations. Agricultural advisory services can support farmers by providing information, training, demonstrations, and technical guidance on the appropriate use of digital technologies for farm management. This study will examine the effect of agricultural advisory services on farmers’ adoption of digital farm management practices. The study will assess the level of adoption of digital farm management practices among farmers and determine the extent to which access to agricultural advisory services influences their adoption. It will also examine farmers’ frequency of advisory contact, exposure to digital agriculture training, and major sources of information about digital tools and farm management technologies. The study will focus on farmers’ adoption of digital record keeping, mobile agricultural applications, GPS-based farm mapping, digital weather information, online agricultural advisory platforms, digital input and farm planning tools, electronic market information, digital financial services, and other relevant technologies used for farm management. Attention will also be given to advisory methods such as farm visits, digital training, practical demonstrations, farmer meetings, field days, mobile-based information services, and other agricultural advisory activities. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their exposure to agricultural advisory services and adoption of digital farm management practices. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while correlation and regression analysis will be used to determine the relationship between agricultural advisory services and farmers’ adoption of digital farm management practices. The study is expected to reveal varying levels of adoption of digital farm management practices among farmers. Farmers with greater access to agricultural advisory services, digital training, practical demonstrations, and technical support may demonstrate higher levels of adoption. The study may also identify constraints affecting adoption, including limited digital literacy, inadequate internet connectivity, high cost of digital devices and services, limited electricity access, lack of technical support, inadequate awareness of available digital tools, and concerns about the usefulness or reliability of digital agricultural information. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, digital agriculture providers, agricultural development agencies, farmer associations, government institutions, researchers, and policymakers. The findings may assist in designing advisory programmes that improve farmers’ access to and effective use of digital farm management technologies. Increased adoption may contribute to improved farm record keeping, better production planning, efficient resource utilisation, timely decision-making, improved access to agricultural information, reduced operational inefficiencies, and increased farm productivity. The study concludes that agricultural advisory services can play an important role in promoting farmers’ adoption of digital farm management practices by providing technical knowledge, digital skills, and practical support. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen digital agriculture advisory programmes through hands-on training, farm demonstrations, mobile-based support, digital literacy programmes, and regular technical guidance. Farmers should also be supported with affordable access to digital tools, reliable connectivity, relevant applications, and timely digital agricultural information to encourage effective adoption of digital farm management practices.

Keywords: Agricultural advisory services, farmers’ adoption, digital farm management, digital agriculture, farm management practices, agricultural extension, digital literacy, mobile applications, digital record keeping, GPS farm mapping, weather information, agricultural technology, farm planning, digital advisory services, agricultural productivity.