Digital Empowerment in Agriculture: Evaluating Infrastructure, Services, Benefits, and Challenges for Smallholder Farmers in Chongwe District

Abstract

The adoption of digital solutions by smallholder farmers can enhance both input and output
market participation, market information, and reduce the cost of selling farm produce thereby
increasing productivity. The objectives of this study was to assess the digital empowerment
of smallholder farmers in Chongwe, Zambia by evaluating the existing digital infrastructure,
available services, perceived benefits, and challenges, with the aim of providing insights that
can inform strategies to enhance the effective integration and utilization of digital solutions in
agricultural practices. The study followed a mixed methods paradigm using a three-stage
sampling procedure. In stage 1, Chongwe district was purposively sampled out of 6 districts
in Lusaka province. In stage 2, Nkomesha Block was purposively samples out of 5
agriculture blocks of Chongwe district. In the last stage, 4 agriculture camps were randomly
selected out of 6 camps in Nkomesha Block. Then Yamane’s formula was used to randomly
sample 92 smallholder farmers. For qualitative data, 5 key informants were purposively
selected for in-depth interviews. The findings were that out of 92 respondents on digital
infrastructure available for smallholder farmers in Chongwe, 89 had mobile phones although
59 only had ordinary phones while 30 had smart phones; 55 had internet connection; 2 were
connected to national electricity grid, and 87 used solar powered electricity. Out of 92
respondents on digital services available for smallholder farmers, smallholder farmers in
Chongwe receiving extension services through three main channels: 78 were through
extension works, 69 through radio, and 43 through TV; and 90 used mobile money for
Munalula, T.
financial transactions. Out of 92 respondents on the benefits of digital solutions to
smallholder farmers, 91 benefited social interactions, 90 benefited enhance extension
linkages, 66 benefited access to agriculture information, and 89 benefited elimination of
middlemen. Out of 92 respondents on the major digital challenges smallholder farmers face,
87 faced high cost of phones, 83 mistrust due to scammers, and 81 high cost of
maintenance.