Digital Technologies, Improved Practices and Maize Productivity among Smallholders in Nigeria and Ghana

Abstract

This study examined the influence of digital technologies and improved farming practices on maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Nigeria and Ghana. The study was anchored on the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A descriptive survey design was adopted. The target population comprised approximately 16.8 million smallholder maize farmers in Nigeria and Ghana, from which 400 farmers were selected through a multistage sampling procedure, comprising 200 farmers from Nigeria (Kaduna, Kano and Oyo States) and 200 farmers from Ghana (Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Northern Regions). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.84. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression and an independent-samples t-test at the 0.05 level of significance. The illustrative results indicate moderate adoption of digital agricultural technologies, with mobile weather applications, market-price SMS/USSD services and digital extension advisory services recording adoption levels of 62.5%, 58.0% and 47.5%, respectively. Adoption of improved farming practices was relatively higher, particularly improved seed varieties (72.0%) and fertilizer application (68.5%). The illustrative regression results indicate that digital technologies (β = 0.342, p < .001) and improved farming practices (β = 0.487, p < .001) positively and significantly predict maize productivity, jointly explaining 67.2% of the variation in productivity (R² = 0.672). Evidence from previous research also indicates that digital advisory services can facilitate the adoption of improved maize production practices, while fertilizer interventions can improve maize productivity. Constraints identified include unreliable electricity supply, poor mobile-network coverage and limited digital literacy. The study concludes that integrating digital agricultural technologies with improved farming practices can contribute substantially to increased maize productivity among smallholder farmers in Nigeria and Ghana.