Pro-poor value chains for small scale farming innovation : sustainability improvements through ICT

Date
2019-12-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The success of small-scale farmers in pro-poor value chains is constrained by aspects related to government policies, research and training, community issues, and the quality of existing information and communication technology (ICT) tools. This article discusses effective strategies to increase the access to and adoption of ICT by small-scale farmers. Based on a literature review and an expert opinion survey, it identifies and assesses the key factors that facilitate increased ICT access and adoption. Investment in the development of ICT for rural small-scale farmer development is needed, to customise farming ICT to be user-friendly, and to conduct research on the use of simpler but more appropriate technologies to facilitate ICT adoption and use for value chain development.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die sukses van kleinboere in armoedeverligting-gerigte waarde-kettings word beperk deur, o.a., regeringsbeleid, navorsing en opleiding, gemeenskap uitdagings, en die gehalte van bestaande inligting- en kommunikasiehulpmiddels. Effektiewe strategieë om toegang tot, en die gebruik van, inligting- en kommunikasie-hulpmiddels deur kleinboere te bevorder is bespreek. ʼn Literatuurstudie en kenner meningspeiling is gebruik om die kernfaktore wat toegang en gebruik bevorder te identifiseer en evalueer. Investering in die ontwikkeling van inligting- en kommunikasiehulpmiddels vir kleinboerontwikkeling is nodig om dit gebruikersvriendelik te maak. Navorsing oor eenvoudiger, toepasliker tegnologie om die aanvaarding en gebruik van hierdie hulpmiddels in waardekettingontwikkeling te bevorder is ook nodig.
Description
CITATION: Matsenjwa, B., Grobbelaar, S. & Meyer, I. A. 2019. Pro-poor value chains for small scale farming innovation : sustainability improvements through ICT. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 30(4):156-171, doi:10.7166/30-4-2176.
The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.za
Keywords
ICT4D, Small holdings (Agriculture) -- Government policy, Information technology
Citation
Matsenjwa, B., Grobbelaar, S. & Meyer, I. A. 2019. Pro-poor value chains for small scale farming innovation : sustainability improvements through ICT. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 30(4):156-171, doi:10.7166/30-4-2176