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Awareness and adoption of agricultural ecommerce applications by smallholder farmers in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province
Author(s)
Lefsifi, Progress
Date Issued
2025
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Farming practices in the rural areas are often indeed by limited access to markets,
low digital literacy and infrastructure, which have an effect on the productivity and
profitability for smallholder farmers. The study’s aim was to address these issue
through assessing the awareness and adoption of ecomerce applications tailored
for agricultural practices by smallholder farmers in Bushbuckridge Local
Municipality. The study applied a mixed method approach, where qualitative and
quantitative data is collected from 114 smallholder farmers. The data collected
comprises of socioeconomic characteristic factors like gender, education, digital
literacy, and an evaluation was conducted to determine factors that affect their
uptake on agricultural based ecommerce apps.
The results of the study showed a high level of awareness regarding agricultural
ecommerce applications, even so, there remains persistent obstacles. Lack of
digital literacy, insufficient resources to invest in new technologies and limited
access to extension services are the contributing factors that hinder adoption
wiliness. However, the study reveals that there is a potential for ecommerce
adoption by farmers as most of them are young and spend more time interacting
with the internet.
The study’s finding reveal the importance of digital technologies for agricultural
extension services and recomment policies that prioritize gender inclusiveness,
creating mentorship programs that are tailored for these farmers and diversifying
income. Therefore, is it crucial to improve digital literacy by equipping smallholder
farmers with with skills that play a role in them adopting ecommerce applications to
theirr farming activities, this will enhace sustainability, productivity and a wide
market reach.
low digital literacy and infrastructure, which have an effect on the productivity and
profitability for smallholder farmers. The study’s aim was to address these issue
through assessing the awareness and adoption of ecomerce applications tailored
for agricultural practices by smallholder farmers in Bushbuckridge Local
Municipality. The study applied a mixed method approach, where qualitative and
quantitative data is collected from 114 smallholder farmers. The data collected
comprises of socioeconomic characteristic factors like gender, education, digital
literacy, and an evaluation was conducted to determine factors that affect their
uptake on agricultural based ecommerce apps.
The results of the study showed a high level of awareness regarding agricultural
ecommerce applications, even so, there remains persistent obstacles. Lack of
digital literacy, insufficient resources to invest in new technologies and limited
access to extension services are the contributing factors that hinder adoption
wiliness. However, the study reveals that there is a potential for ecommerce
adoption by farmers as most of them are young and spend more time interacting
with the internet.
The study’s finding reveal the importance of digital technologies for agricultural
extension services and recomment policies that prioritize gender inclusiveness,
creating mentorship programs that are tailored for these farmers and diversifying
income. Therefore, is it crucial to improve digital literacy by equipping smallholder
farmers with with skills that play a role in them adopting ecommerce applications to
theirr farming activities, this will enhace sustainability, productivity and a wide
market reach.
Additional information
Thesis (MAgric)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2026
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Progress_Lefsifi_230797261.pdf
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