Comparative Analyses of Users and Non-Users Of Digital Platform and Traceability Technology (DPTT) in Maize Production in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Comparative analyses of users and non-users of digital platforms and traceability technologies (DPTT) in maize production was studied. The study was undertaken to achieve the following objectives: identify DPPT used by maize farmers in the area, determine the factors influencing the output of maize production in the area and compare the output of maize farmers between users and non-users of DPTT in the area. Result of analysis showed that farm size, labour input, quantity of seed, educational attainment and access to credit were significant to influence the use of DPTT.  The DPTT identified in the area included: information and communication technology (ICT), blockchain, radio-frequency identification (RFID), The Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based databases, artificial intelligence (AL) and machine learning (ML). The mean output of users of DPTT in kg was 46,100.0000 while that of non-users of DPTT was 9,550.0000 kg. The large standard deviation for users (36,107.88 kg) suggested considerable variation in their output, while non-users show much less variation (6,082.55 kg). The study concluded that the use of DPTT had positive effect on maize production in CRS. Key factors such as illiteracy, cost of DPTT, interest rate, internet connectivity and electricity were found to significantly influence the use of DPTT. Overall, DPTT has played a role in reducing poverty among maize farmers in the area, further efforts are needed to address the ongoing challenges. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made; government should encourage a platform where users of DPTT can share knowledge, practices, and experiences with non-users to encourage the later to adopt this method of agriculture and the government should facilitate farmers' access to microfinance and low-interest loans, to enable them to acquire DPTT.