Factors affecting the using information and communication technologies (ICTs) by livestock farmers in the Eastern Cape province

Figures & data

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of access to ICTs by livestock farmers.

Table 1. Description of variables used in the study

Variable	Description	Measurement	Expected sign
X1	Gender of the farmer	1 = male, 0 = otherwise	±
X2	Age of the farmer	Actual years	-
X3	Marital status of the farmer	1 = married, 0 = otherwise	+
X4	Family size of the farmer	Actual number of people	+
X5	Years spent in school by the farmer	Actual years	+
X6	Household source of income by the farmer	Actual amount	+
X7	Farming years by the farmer	Actual years of farming	+
X8	Distance to the agricultural marketing center	Actual kilometres	-
X9	Access to extension agents by the farmer	1 = access to extension agents, 0 = otherwise	+
X10	Access to a financial institution by the farmer	1 = access to finance, 0 = otherwise	-
X11	Member of farm organization	1 = member of farm organization, 0 = otherwise	+
X12	Household monthly income	1 = > 1500, 0 = otherwise	+
X13	Occupation by the household head	1 = full time farmer, 0 = otherwise	+
X14	Farming as the only source of income	1 = farming as an only income source, 0 = otherwise	-
X15	Knowledge of using mobile phones for agricultural purposes	1 = can use mobile phone for agricultural purposes, 0 = otherwise.	+

Figure 2. ICT tools owned by farmers.

Figure 3. Reasons for not using ICTs by livestock farmers.

Table 2. Effects of using information and communication technologies (ICTs)

Effects of using ICT	Percentage (%)
Increases agricultural information availability	89
Increase Knowledge on farming activities and breeding techniques	86
Improved quality of marketing information and access to markets	84
Improved access to agricultural input, disease control, and record-keeping	78
Improved awareness of agricultural events and training	76
Encourages information sharing, dissemination and strengthen farm partnership	64
Enhanced productivity and farm returns	90

Figure 4. Constraints faced by farmers in using ICTs.

Table 3. Factors influencing ICT usage by livestock farmers

	Logit results		Marginal effect
Variable	Co-efficient	P-value
Gender	1.265	0.000***	0.253	0.000***
Age	−1.863	0.001***	−0.34	0.001***
Years spent in school	1.235	0.023**	0.361	0.000***
Marital status	1.486	0.028**	0.608	0.028**
Access to extension services	1.768	0.000***	0.465	0.000***
Family size	1.245	0.038**	0.596	0.038**
Member of farm organization	1.973	0.008**	0.236	0.008*
Electricity outage	−1.895	0.01**	−0.875	0.012**
Network coverage and interruptions	−1.836	0.005***	−0.431	0.005***
Access to credit	−1.563	0.000***	−0.230	0.000***
Number of observers = 170 Likelihood = −278.789 Pr>Chi = 0.001 LR Chi^2 (9) = 104.99 Pseudo R^2 = 0.901

Note *** and ** significant at Level 1% and 5%, respectively.