Open government data as a driver of climate resilience and digital transformation in Tanzania agriculture

The study investigated the role of Open Government Data (OGD) toward improving climate resilience and digital transformation in the agricultural sector in Magu District, Tanzania. The study was guided by the Public Value Theory and Adaptive Governance Theory and focused on; examining the access and use of OGD, the role of OGD in promoting climate resilience among stakeholders and the impact of OGD on digital transformation in agriculture. The study utilized a mixed methods approach, with the use of interviews and structured surveys of 316 respondents. Results showed moderate awareness along with access to OGD services, but actual usage remained low due to low digital literacy, language barriers, and infrastructure challenges. Despite the adoption of climate-smart agriculture initiatives such as drought-resistant crops and improved soil conservation, the adoption of digital platforms in agriculture is still low. Correlational analysis revealed a notable but moderate association between access to OGD and advancement in digital transformation. The study recommends that to leverage maximum public value as well as resilience benefits of OGD, there is a need to strategically design digital language skills and participatory policy framing tailored to the local communities.