Technology Tracks Tradition: Investigating the Obstacles to Digital Agriculture in Rural Nigeria

This research investigates the obstacles to the adoption of digital agriculture among smallholder farmers in Nigeria, utilizing a qualitative mixed-methods approach. Data were obtained through a literature review of peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and case studies, further enriched by primary information from semi-structured interviews with 40 farmers, five leaders of cooperatives, and five extension officers, alongside four focus group discussions in four states representing Nigeria’s major agro-ecological zones (Kano, Benue, Ogun, and Ebonyi). The results indicate that the acceptance of digital agriculture is influenced by socioeconomic factors, including education, gender, and farm size. Nonetheless, infrastructural and institutional challenges such as inadequate internet connectivity, the high expense of digital tools, low levels of digital literacy, and insufficient extension support further hinder uptake. Additionally, regional variances were noted, with farmers in the South-West reporting better access and utilization than those in the North-East and South-East. The study concludes that, although digital agriculture offers significant opportunities for transforming farming in Nigeria, specific interventions aimed at enhancing digital inclusion, literacy, infrastructure, and policy coherence are crucial for realizing its full potential.