BREAKING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE – CHALLENGES FARMERS FACE IN EMBRACING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN CAMBODIA.

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) serve as a significant catalyst for economic growth among smallholder farmers by addressing information gaps through real-time market prices and weather forecasts, improving market access by linking farmers directly to buyers, and promoting financial inclusion through mobile banking. These technologies enhance efficiency via improved resource management and encourage collaboration among farmers, resulting in increased productivity, elevated incomes, and more resilient agricultural systems. Contemporary projects advancing AgTech frequently falter in gaining momentum due to their insufficient consideration of the distinct conditions faced by farmers. The core issue is an absence of targeted, evidence-based comprehension of the principal reasons hindering farmers from embracing digital technologies. The interaction of socio-economic constraints (such as farmland size and annual average farm income), technological barriers (including the absence of Khmer-language interfaces and dependable internet), and entrenched perceptual factors (like preference for traditional knowledge over new technology) remains ambiguous, resulting in suboptimal policy and technology design. The research objective is to determine the key socio-economic, technological, and perceptual factors influencing Cambodian farmers regarding the adoption of digital technologies. The Cohran formula was applied to the known population of 993 surveys to ascertain the required number of farmers to be interviewed. A total of 400 farmers were randomly selected from 10 districts, ensuring gender balance. KoboToolBox and SPSS IBM 25 were used for data collection and analysis. Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Test, Principal Component Analysis, and KMO-Barlett Test of Sphericity were also applied. We identified the primary challenges to digital technology adoption include infrastructural barriers (e.g., high costs and limited access), educational barriers (such as low attainment levels), and trust-related barriers (including fraud concerns), while behavioral factors also significantly influence outcomes. Infrastructures, including limited access to technology, poor internet connectivity, elevated technology costs, rising mobile data fees, and absence of public Wi-Fi, statistically affect an estimated 83-88% of respondents. Low educational attainment represents a significant barrier in education. Insufficient digital literacy, the complexity of technology, inadequate training and exposure, and a lack of support from agricultural organizations impede adoption. Trustworthiness presents a considerable challenge, particularly regarding online security and fraud concerns. Human behavior, characterized by insufficient personal commitment, inadequate effort, resistance to change, and various other behavioral barriers, significantly influences the adoption of digital technology. This paper recommends that addressing the digital divide necessitates comprehensive strategies, including the enhancement of digital literacy via targeted training programs, investment in rural digital infrastructure, subsidization of technology costs for farmers, development of localized content, establishment of trust through transparent data policies, and promotion of collaborative policy frameworks.