Determinants Of Information Communication Technologies Usage In Agricultural Value Chains By Rural Youth In Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

The youth represent one of the productive resources of every country. In Kenya, the youth constitute 80% of total population, but face significant challenges in the labor market. About 55% of Kenyan youth are unemployed, making it one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. The use of information communication technologies (ICTs) in agricultural value chains provides an opportunity for improving the profitability of agriculture-related activities to ensure sustainable livelihoods. However, the extent of youth’s participation in the application of ICTs in agricultural value chains is yet to be documented. This study sought to fill this knowledge gap by characterizing youth participation in agricultural value chains and analyzing the extent to which they use various forms of ICTs. Primary data were obtained through face-to-face interviews of a random sample of 213 youth in Busia County. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, binary logit and poisson regression models. Descriptive analysis was used to characterize youth participation in agricultural value chains. A binary logit regression model was applied to analyze factors influencing youth’s use of ICTs in agriculture. Poisson regression model was used to examine the extent of ICT usage in agricultural value chain stages. The findings showed that usage of ICTs by most youth for agricultural transactions is concentrated in the cereals, horticulture and livestock value chains. The youth mostly preferred using ICTs at the marketing level of the agricultural chain activities. The study also found that youth’s usage of ICTs in agriculture is influenced by access to extension, group membership, transport cost to the market and number of ICT tools owned. Age, marital status, transport cost, distance to market, number of agricultural value chains, land size and access to extension services significantly affected the extent of ICT usage by the youth in the agricultural value chains. These findings offer useful insights on the best points along the agricultural value chains where ICTs can be vi more effectively deployed and the specific capacity of the youth can be built to enhance their application of ICTs tools in agricultural transactions. The findings suggest the need to incorporate agricultural information packages on social media platforms. Further, introducing training programs tailored to build capacity in understanding specific value chains will be important in helping youth use ICTs appropriate for different enterprises and value chain stages. Key words: ICTs, youth, agricultural value chains, Kenya