Determinants and benefits of using smartphone-based information for vegetable production and marketing: a case of Lao farmers

ABSTRACT

This paper empirically investigates the determinants of using smartphone-based agricultural information provided by the government. The study collected data through a field survey involving 130 vegetable farmers in the Vientiane Province of Lao PDR. The regression model results indicated that farmers’ innovativeness, literacy of ICT tools, income share from farming, farm size, farmer age, and education were significant determinants of using government-provided smartphone-based information. The findings further revealed that the information received through smartphones helped farmers improve their vegetable production and marketing practices and increased vegetable yield and profit. The findings have implications for information developers, providers, and policymakers.

KEYWORDS:

• Vegetable farmers
• horticulture
• smartphone
• information application
• ICT
• production and marketing information
• usefulness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Phonedalom Bounkham

Phonedalom Bounkham, MSc, is a PhD candidate at the Department of Development and Sustainability of the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. His research interests include Regional and Rural Development Planning, International Development, Community Development, and Agricultural Development.

Mokbul Morshed Ahmad

Mokbul Morshed Ahmad, PhD, is a Professor at the Department of Development and Sustainability of the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. His research interests include Regional and Rural Development Planning, Community Development, NGOs/Civil Society, Adaptation to Climate Change, and Human Conflicts.

Muhammad Yaseen

Muhammad Yaseen, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics and Management of the Neijiang Normal University, China. His research interests include Regional and Rural Development Planning, Socio-Economic Development, Community-based Resource Management, Sustainable Agriculture, and Adaptation to Climate Change.