Gender and Generational Inequalities in ICT Adoption for Agricultural Decision-Making in KwaZulu-Natal

This paper examines the demographic determinants of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) adoption among smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using a survey of 517 farmers across 14 sites, we analyze how age, gender, formal education, and farming experience influence the uptake of mobile agriculture tools (mobile messaging, voice services, SMS advisories, weather, and market information). Logistic regression results replicate the original dataset: males are 2.142 times more likely than females to adopt ICTs, and older age groups have significantly lower odds of adoption; formal education and farming experience are non-significant. Cronbach’s alpha reliability scores (0.764; 0.73; 0.749) indicate acceptable internal consistency. We situate these findings within recent mAgriculture and sustainability literature and offer policy-relevant recommendations to increase inclusive ICT uptake and to leverage digital tools for environmental sustainability.