A Phenomenological Study of Rural Farmers’ Experiences and Perceptions of Digital Technology Adoption in Agriculture

Abstract

The integration of digital technology in agriculture has revolutionized farming practices, offering solutions to increase productivity and sustainability. However, the adoption of these technologies in rural communities remains underexplored, particularly in terms of farmers' subjective experiences and the social-cultural context of technology use. While previous research has focused on the technical and economic impacts, there is a gap in understanding the deeper, lived experiences of farmers engaging with these tools. This study uses a phenomenological approach to explore how farmers perceive and adapt to digital technologies in agriculture, addressing the gap in understanding their emotional, social, and cultural interactions with these tools. Through in-depth interviews with 15 purposively selected farmers from rural agricultural communities who had prior experience using digital agricultural technologies, key themes were identified regarding the empowerment and challenges faced in adopting digital tools. Participants were selected based on their active involvement in farming and their experience with digital platforms and applications used for agricultural activities. To enhance the trustworthiness of the findings, member checking and peer debriefing procedures were employed throughout the data analysis process. The results show that while digital tools enhance productivity, access barriers and digital literacy issues hinder widespread adoption, underscoring the importance of addressing social and cultural factors in technology deployment. These findings contribute to a more holistic understanding of agricultural technology adoption and suggest the need for future research focused on long-term impacts and the role of social networks in facilitating digital inclusion in rural communities.