Title: Factors impacting farm management decision making software adoption

Authors: Kenneth David Strang; Sarah Nankyer Bitrus; Narasimha Rao Vajjhala

Addresses: Walden University, 100 Washington Ave South, Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA; APPC Research, 820 SR9, Queensbury, NY 12804, USA ' Provost Office, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria ' Chair IS, American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria

Abstract: In this study, we use an unconventional socio-cultural ideology to examine if Western African farmers think agricultural information systems (AISs) improve economic production, at the individual level of analysis. Food production is a necessity for our survival but it has been negatively impacted by unstable financial markets, climate change, political upheavals and health pandemics, especially in Western African-based developing countries. We developed a four factor model based on the information systems expectancy confirmation theory which could determine why Nigerian farmers adopt agricultural information systems. We used a survey to collect data from farmers, we validated the questions using a pilot study, and we developed a structural equation model to quantitatively explain why farmers make the decision to adopt or discontinue the use of AIS electronic software. We found that farmer's satisfaction was positively influenced by high confirmation experience with AIS. To a lesser extent we found that farmer's satisfaction was positively impacted by AIS perceived usefulness (PU). Interestingly, we found no evidence that any factor was related to farmer's behavioural intent for continued use of AIS. The results raise controversial issues concerning AIS effectiveness and government technology funding in Western African countries.

Keywords: agricultural information system; AIS; farm management; crop planning; decision making software; adoption; perceived use; continuance intention; satisfaction; confirmation experience; expectancy confirmation theory; Western Africa; Nigeria.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2019.101372

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2019 Vol.5 No.1, pp.1 - 14

Received: 24 Nov 2018
Accepted: 01 Feb 2019

Published online: 05 Aug 2019 *

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