Are the AgriTech Technologies Available, Adaptable and Practical to Young Farmers? Lessons from Tomato farmers in Kirinyaga County, Kenya

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) in particular mobile phone applications and internet are transforming how agribusiness is carried out in some parts of developing countries including Kenya. The spread of information and communication technologies (ICTs), especially mobile phones, in developing countries has been both extensive and rapid creating a need to assess its efficiency and the rate of adoption. This study aimed at examining how farmers in the county integrate technological innovations in the production and marketing stage of tomato in the sampled area. The objective of the study was to examine how small scale farmers are integrating social media marketing platforms, digital credit, agricultural value addition and artificial intelligence in their production and marketing stages in the agricultural value chain. The results indicate statistically significant positive effects of AgriTech Technologies on farm income (t-prob 0.000<0.05). The results notably indicate that using social media marketing platforms has the highest positive contribution to a unit change in farm income (β= 3.84).Smallholder farmer’s ability to access knowledge, networks, and institutions essential for improving productivity, food security, and employment opportunities is a big challenge especially in rural areas where internet connectivity and poverty levels are alarming.