Adoption of Mobile Applications in Agriculture among Farmers in Nan, Thailand

Authors

  • Rungroge Kamondetdacha Chulalongkorn University

Keywords:

Adoption of technology, Mobile applications in agriculture, Perception of technology, Organic farmers

Abstract

With the rise of digital technologies and smartphones, mobile applications in agriculture based on smartphones have been rapidly developed. However, the benefits of mobile applications in agriculture for crop operations, farm management, and information system have not been fully achieved due to the low level of adoption. This paper studied: (1) the relation between age and educational level of farmers and size of farms, and the adoption of mobile applications; and (2) the perception of farmers towards the advantages and disadvantages of mobile applications. It adopted a case study method to analyze 60 crop farmers in Nan PGS (Participatory Guarantee System) agriculture group. The results showed that the adoption of applications depended on age and education level, whereas the size of farms had no relation with the adoption. Moreover, the results indicated a different perception of advantages and disadvantages of mobile applications among users, non-users, and prospective users. The groups of non-users and prospective users ranked lowest scores on the advantages on farm management. It is therefore suggested that educational institutions and agricultural development agencies should encourage new generation farmers to use agricultural-related applications and build awareness on the applications. This would then increase the application adoption and thereby help improve farm productivity.

References

Alvarez, J., & Nuthall, P. (2006). Adoption of computer based information systems: The case of dairy farmers in Canterbury, NZ, and Florida, Uruguay. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 50, 48-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2005.08.013

Apps, J. W., & Iddings, R. K. (1990). What influences farmers’ computer use?. Journal of Extension, 28(1), 19-21. http://www.joe.org/joe/1990spring/a4.php

Cameron, R. (1975). The Diffusion of Technology as a Problem in Economic History. Economic Geography, 51(3), 217-230. https://doi.org/10.2307/143118

Chmiliar, L. (2010). Case study surveys. In A. J. Mills, G. Durepos, & E. Wiebe (Eds.), Encyclopedia of case study research (pp. 125-126). SAGE. https://www.doi.org/10.4135/9781412957397.n43

Csótó, M. (2015). Mobile device in agriculture: Attracting new audiences or serving the tech-savvy?. Journal of Agricultural Informatics, 6, 75-84. https:doi.org/10.17700/jai.2015.6.3.227

Cunha, C., Peres, E., Morais, R., Oliveira, A., Matos, S., Fernandes, M., Ferreira, P., & Reis, M. (2010). The use of mobile devices with multi-tag technologies for an overall contextualized vineyard management. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 73(2), 154-164. https:doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2010.05.007.

Department of Agricultural Extension. (2016a). The population in Thailand’s agriculture sector 2011-2015. http://www.agriinfo.doae.go.th/5year/general/54-58/farmer54-58.pdf

Department of Agricultural Extension. (2016b). ฐานข้อมูลทะเบียนเกษตรกร ณ วันที่ 29 กุมภาพันธ์ 2559 [Database of Thailand’s agriculture population in February 2016]. https://ssnet.doae.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ทะเบียนเกษตรกร-24-11-edit.pdf

Hall, L., Dunkelberger, J., Ferreire, W., Prevatt, J. W., & Martin, N. R. (2003). Diffusion-Adoption of Personal Computers and the Internet in Farm Business Decisions: Southeastern Beef and Peanut Farmers. Journal of Extension, 41(3). https://archives.joe.org/joe/2003june/a6.php

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements [IFOAM]. (2008). Definition of participatory guarantee systems. https://www.ifoam.bio/sites/default/files/pgs_definition_in_different_languages.pdf

Irungu, K. R. G., Mbugua, D., & Muia, J. (2015). Information and communication technologies (ICTs) attract youth into profitable agriculture in Kenya. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal, 81(1), 24-33.

Kamondetdacha, R., & Janhom, T. (2022). The dynamics of university’s roles in the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) learning process: A case of the Nan agricultural communities in Thailand. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 43(4), 1059-1066. https://doi.org/10.34044/j.kjss.2022.43.4.31

Karetsos, S., Costopoulou, C., & Sideridis, A. B. (2014). Developing a smartphone app for m-government in agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Informatics, 5, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.17700/JAI.2014.5.1.129

Katz, Y. (2019). Technology, society and the digital gap. Advances in Applied Sociology, 9, 60-69.

Knierim, A., Kernecker, M., Erdle, K., & Kraus, T. (2019). Smart farming technology innovations-insights and reflections from the German Smart-AKIS hub. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 90-91 (100314).

Lencsés, E., Takács, I., & Takács-György, K. (2014). Farmers’ Perception of Precision Farming Technology among Hungarian Farmers. Sustainability, 6, 8452-8465

Madushanki A. A. R., Halgamuge, M. N., Wirasagoda, W. A. S., & Syed, A. (2019). Adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture and Smart Farming towards Urban Greening: A Review, International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 10(4), 11-28. https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2019.0100402

Marks, D. (2011). Climate Change and Thailand: Impact and Response. Contemporary Southeast Asia A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs, 33(2), 229-258. https://doi:10.1353/csa.2011.0132

Mendes, J., Pinho, T. M., dos Santos, F. N., Sousa, J. J., Peres, E., Boaventura-Cunha, J., Cunha, M., & Morais, R. (2020). Smartphone Applications Targeting Precision Agriculture Practices–A Systematic Review. Agronomy, 10, 855. https://doi:10.3390/agronomy10060855

Office of Agricultural Economics. (2017). เศรษฐกิจการเกษตรของประเทศไทย [Indicators of Thailand’s agricultural economics]. http://www.oae.go.th/assets/portals/1/files/jounal/2561/indicator2560.pdf

Oteyo, I. N., Marra, M., Kimani, S., De Meuter, W., & Boix, E. G. (2021). A Survey on Mobile Applications for Smart Agriculture. SN Computer Science, 2, 293.

Pongnumkul, S., Chaovalit, P. & Surasvadi, N. (2015). Applications of Smartphone-Based Sensors in Agriculture: A Systematic Review of Research, Journal of Sensors, 1-18.

Ratanavararak, L., Chantarat, S., Rittinon, C., Sa-ngimnet, B., Unahalekhaka, A., Chinnachodteeranun, R., & Pantakua, K. (2019). Digital technology กับการยกระดับคุณภาพชีวิตเกษตรกรไทย [Digital technology and Enhancing quality of life of Thai farmers]. aBRIDGEd. Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research. https://www.pier.or.th/abridged/2019/19

Regan, A. (2019). Smart farming in Ireland: a risk perception study with key governance actors. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 90-91(100292). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2019.02.003

Rogers, E. M. (1962). Diffusion of Innovation. Free Press.

Sayruamyat, S., & Nadee, W. (2020). Acceptance and readiness of Thai farmers toward digital technology. In Y. D. Zhang, J. Mandal, C. So-In, & N. Thakur N (Eds.), Smart trends in computing and communications: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (pp. 75-82). Springer Nature.

Shaikh, T. (2017). Impact of Mobile Application in Agriculture: Attitude of farmers towards the usage and the problem in accessing the mobile apps. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323747644_Impact_of_Mobile_Application_in_Agriculture_Attitude_of_farmers_towards_the_usage_and_the_problem_in_accessing_the_mobile_apps

Srivetbodee, S., & Igel, B. (2021). Digital Technology Adoption in Agriculture: Success Factors, Obstacles and Impact on Corporate Social Responsibility Performance in Thailand’s Smart Farming Projects. Thammasat Review, 24(2), 149-170.

Stone, M. L., & Raun, W. R. (2016). Sensing Technology for Precision Crop Farming. In Q. Zhang (Ed.), Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming (pp. 21-53). CRC Press.

Suarez, S. A., & Suarez, A. M. (2013). The Impact of Mobile Phone Apps in the Agricultural Production. In B. Katalinic, & Z. Tekic (Eds), DAAAM International Scientific Book (pp. 629-636). DAAAM International Vienna.

Takács-György, K., Lencsés, E., & Takács, I. (2013). Economic benefits of precision weed control and why its uptake is so slow. Studies in Agricultural Economics, 115, 40-46.

Tanwattana, P., Janhom, T., Thongpun, S., & Northao, W. (2018). Participatory process for land use change : Haze free agriculure, Nan province, Thailand [กระบวนการปรับเปลี่ยนการใช้ประโยชน์ที่ดินแบบมีส่วนร่วม: กรณีศึกษาเกษตรกรรมไร้หมอกควัน จังหวัดน่าน], Environmental Journal, 22(3), 22-30.

Taragola, N., & Gelb, E. (2005). Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption in horticulture: a comparison to the EFITA baseline. In J. B. Cunha, & R. Morais (Eds.), Proceedings of the EFITA/WCCA 2005 Joint Conference.

Taragola, N. M., & Van Lierde, D. F. (2010). Factors affecting the internet behaviour of horticultural growers in Flanders, Belgium. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 70(2), 369-379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2009.09.004

Vanichbuncha, K. (2009). สถิติสำหรับงานวิจัย [Statistics for research]. บริษัท ธรรมสาร จำกัด.

Visetnoi, S., & Sirisoponsilp, S. (2019). Uplifting Thailand’s agriculture through agricultural education: a paradigm shift for future farmers. International Journal of Agriculture Innovation, Technology, and Globalisation, 1(1), 44-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJAITG.2019.099600

Voulodimos, A. S., Patrikakis, C. Z., Sideridis, A. B., Ntafis, V. A., & Xylouri, E. M. (2010). A complete farm management system based on animal identification using RFID technology. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 70(2), 380-388. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.compag.2009.07.009

Wayne, N., & Visetnoi, S. (2016). Thailand's Department of Agricultural Extension and Agrochemical Dependency: Perspectives on Contributing Factors and Mitigation Strategies. Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 22(3), 225-240. https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2015.1063519

World Bank. (2021). Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS

World Trade Organization. (2021). World Trade Statistical Review 2021. https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/statis_e/wts2021_e/wts2021chapter05_e.pdf

Zhao, C., Chen, L. Yang, G., & Song, X. (2016). Data Processing and Utilization in Precision Agriculture. In Q. Zhang (Ed.), Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming (pp. 55-102). CRC Press.

Zheng, S., Wang, Z., & Wachenheim, C. J. (2019). Technology adoption among farmers in Jilin Province, China: the case of aerial pesticide application. China Agricultural Economic Review, 11(1), 206-216.

Downloads

Published

25-11-2022

How to Cite

Kamondetdacha, R. (2022). Adoption of Mobile Applications in Agriculture among Farmers in Nan, Thailand. NBTC Journal, 6(6), 69–96. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/NBTC_Journal/article/view/260371

Issue

Section

Research article