A new report has raised questions about the real impact of digital technology in farming across Africa. While mobile phones and internet access have spread widely, many smallholder farmers still struggle to use digital solutions that could boost food production and improve their livelihoods.
The study, titled “Is Agricultural Digitization a Reality among Smallholder Farmers in Africa?” was carried out by researchers Abdul-Rahim Abdulai and Philip Tetteh Quarshie. It explored how farmers are adopting—or not adopting—tools like smartphones, farm apps, drones, weather updates, and blockchain solutions.
According to the report, although almost all farmers (96.2%) believe digital farming is good for agriculture and 81% think it is the future, only a few are actually using these tools. A key finding was that most farmers’ use of digital tools is driven by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), not by the farmers themselves.
The researchers define agriculture digitalisation as using both simple and advanced technology—from radios and phones to drones, soil sensors and blockchain—for farming. However, they found that real use of these tools remains very low.
The study also highlights that while smartphones and internet penetration are growing fast, farmers still face serious challenges. These include poor network coverage, high cost of services, low digital skills, and little interest in trying new technologies. Many farmers also remain sceptical of service providers and prefer face-to-face communication within their tight-knit communities.
Interestingly, mobile phones—especially basic feature phones—are the most common tech used by farmers. They mainly use them for mobile money transactions, contacting agricultural extension officers, checking weather forecasts, asking about market prices, and selling produce.
The research describes a typical digital-savvy farmer as a man between 25 and 40 years old with basic education, practising mixed farming at subsistence level, and belonging to a farm group or cooperative.
Among users, female farmers made up 81.5%, farmers aged 25–40 years stood at 81.9%, and those with small farms under five acres recorded 82.5% usage. Farmers in organised groups (85.7%) and those with access to extension services (86.4%) were more likely to use digital tools.
Despite the interest and positive attitude among farmers, the report warned that most of them lack access to the internet or smartphones and also lack basic digital skills. It says the expectations surrounding smart farming in Africa are exaggerated and do not match the current realities.
The researchers concluded that before Africa can benefit fully from digital agriculture, governments and stakeholders must first provide the right tools, affordable internet, training for farmers and extension workers, and improve infrastructure. They urged policymakers to focus on practical digital interventions tailored to rural communities.
