A systematic review of mobile agricultural service applications for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: perspectives from the technology acceptance model

Abstract The growth in mobile phone use in sub-Saharan Africa has seen Mobile Agricultural Service Applications (MASA) emerge as a potential solution to address agricultural challenges and enhance the productivity of smallholder farmers in the region. While their potential is undeniable, these technologies often struggle to achieve sustained adoption without external support. In response, researchers have turned to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to better understand the behavioral factors that influence farmers’ decisions to adopt such applications in a bid to find solutions and interventions. A key observation is that existing research is scattered and lacks a comprehensive synthesis, making it difficult for stakeholders to grasp the broader behavioral influences on adoption. This study addresses that gap by systematically reviewing empirical studies that apply the Technology Acceptance Model to examine mobile agricultural service adoption among smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the study addresses two questions: (1) which TAM construct perceived usefulness or perceived ease of use exerts a greater influence on smallholder farmers’ adoption of mobile agricultural service applications? and (2) what are the key determinants of usefulness and ease of use that shape farmers’ adoption decisions of MASA? A total of 14 empirical studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. The findings reveal that perceived usefulness is the more influential factor, with farmers primarily motivated by tangible benefits such as increased productivity, better access to agricultural information, and cost savings. Perceived ease of use is shaped by factors like user-friendliness, simplicity, and access to supportive infrastructure. Additional external influences include education level, income, device type, and network availability. Based on these insights, we propose a contextual framework to guide future design and policy interventions aimed at promoting the sustainable use of mobile agricultural services by smallholder farmers.