Impact of Digital Ability and Rice Technology Adoption on Rice Farming Performance in Benin

ABSTRACT This study examines the combined effects of digital ability and the adoption of various rice technologies among smallholder rice farmers, using GPS‐spatially matched data sources that include household surveys and a general census of rice value chain actors in Benin. Using weighted instrumental variable estimation, the main findings indicate that both digital ability and technology adoption help improve rice farming results, mainly by increasing income and fertilizer use. However, their combination has adverse effects due to the ineffective integration of farmers' digital proficiency into rice technology applications. The results highlight the importance of developing interventions that consider both the skills of the farmers receiving the technology and the available technologies. Policymakers should prioritize training initiatives that improve farmers' digital and technological skills, helping them to fully leverage the sustainable advantages of new agricultural technologies amid increasing agricultural digitalization in Benin.