Drivers and barriers to the adoption of digital farming technology: evidence from Nigeria

Rising concerns about food security, labour shortages, consumer preferences, and climate change have increased interest in how to efficiently use farm resources and promote sustainable agriculture. The introduction of digital technologies and data applications in agriculture offers a potential solution to these problems, but their adoption among farmers is remarkably low, and uncertainties exist about their use. This research seeks to identify the most practical and logical explanation of the factors influencing the adoption of digital farming technologies in Nigeria by using qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Our study shows that farmers are optimistic about the technology. The main drivers of the adoption of digital farming technology are the perceived value of the technology and the farmer's social influences. The barriers to adoption are identified as human factors, technical hurdles, cost and infrastructure hurdles, and the limited provision of training and support.