Barriers to the Adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Accessing Agricultural Information by Small-Scale Farmers in Mahikeng, Northwest Province

Small-scale farmers in Mahikeng, South Africa, face significant challenges in leveraging Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for agricultural information. This study examined how socio-economic characteristics and perceived barriers influence the adoption of ICT. A cross-sectional survey of 121 farmers was conducted using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. Findings showed that while 92% of respondents were aware of ICT-based agricultural services, actual adoption was uneven. Approximately 86% used ICT, primarily radios and mobile phones, while internet-based platforms were relatively rare. Barriers were multifaceted, with unreliable electricity and poor connectivity being the most frequently cited (85%), followed by high device costs (71%) and unaffordable data (73%). The absence of local ICT hubs (79%) and socio-cultural constraints such as low literacy and language mismatches further limited uptake. Regression analysis revealed that larger farm sizes significantly increased the likelihood of adoption, while high perceived costs and poor internet access reduced it. Overall, despite high awareness, ICT adoption is constrained by intersecting infrastructural, economic, and socio-cultural barriers. Addressing these issues requires a holistic strategy that combines infrastructure investment, affordability interventions, and targeted digital literacy support.