Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda
Mobile phone-based Digital Agricultural Advisory Services (DAAS) offer cost-effective approaches for delivering agricultural extension to smallholder farmers, however, gender dynamics influence access and use patterns. Using focus group discussions with 49 women and 50 men farmers, complemented by k...
| Autor principal: | |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Taylor and Francis
2025
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| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178127 |
| _version_ | 1855521320651980800 |
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| author | Mulungu, Kelvin H. |
| author_browse | Mulungu, Kelvin H. |
| author_facet | Mulungu, Kelvin H. |
| author_sort | Mulungu, Kelvin H. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Mobile phone-based Digital Agricultural Advisory Services (DAAS) offer cost-effective approaches for delivering agricultural extension to smallholder farmers, however, gender dynamics influence access and use patterns. Using focus group discussions with 49 women and 50 men farmers, complemented by key informant interviews with agricultural officers, we examined mobile phone ownership patterns and usage for agricultural purposes in rural Uganda. The findings reveal that while 94-98% of households own mobile phones, smartphone ownership remains limited (34%), with pronounced gender disparities. Both women and men use mobile phones to access information on agricultural inputs, markets, weather forecasts, and extension services through various platforms. However, there are institutional barriers, such as limited financial resources for devices and data bundles, poor network coverage, and restricted access to electricity. Gender norms further constrain women’s access, with lower digital literacy, inability to read in English, exacerbated lack of resources, time poverty, and reliance on men’s phones. To enhance inclusive access to digital agricultural services, we recommend integrating digital literacy programs targeting women, developing multilingual platforms, and adopting hybrid extension models that combine digital tools with face-to-face support. These interventions are essential to ensure equitable participation in Uganda’s digital agricultural transformation. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace178127 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| publisherStr | Taylor and Francis |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1781272025-12-08T10:11:39Z Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda Mulungu, Kelvin H. gender agriculture mobile phones smallholders digital agriculture Mobile phone-based Digital Agricultural Advisory Services (DAAS) offer cost-effective approaches for delivering agricultural extension to smallholder farmers, however, gender dynamics influence access and use patterns. Using focus group discussions with 49 women and 50 men farmers, complemented by key informant interviews with agricultural officers, we examined mobile phone ownership patterns and usage for agricultural purposes in rural Uganda. The findings reveal that while 94-98% of households own mobile phones, smartphone ownership remains limited (34%), with pronounced gender disparities. Both women and men use mobile phones to access information on agricultural inputs, markets, weather forecasts, and extension services through various platforms. However, there are institutional barriers, such as limited financial resources for devices and data bundles, poor network coverage, and restricted access to electricity. Gender norms further constrain women’s access, with lower digital literacy, inability to read in English, exacerbated lack of resources, time poverty, and reliance on men’s phones. To enhance inclusive access to digital agricultural services, we recommend integrating digital literacy programs targeting women, developing multilingual platforms, and adopting hybrid extension models that combine digital tools with face-to-face support. These interventions are essential to ensure equitable participation in Uganda’s digital agricultural transformation. 2025-10 2025-11-24T16:47:40Z 2025-11-24T16:47:40Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178127 en Limited Access Taylor and Francis Mulungu, K. (2025). Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: A case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda. Gender, Technology and Development, 29(3), 384–397. https://doi.org/10.1080/09718524.2025.2557649 |
| spellingShingle | gender agriculture mobile phones smallholders digital agriculture Mulungu, Kelvin H. Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title | Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title_full | Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title_short | Gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use: a case study of smallholder farmers in Uganda |
| title_sort | gender perspectives on mobile phone ownership and use a case study of smallholder farmers in uganda |
| topic | gender agriculture mobile phones smallholders digital agriculture |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mulungukelvinh genderperspectivesonmobilephoneownershipanduseacasestudyofsmallholderfarmersinuganda |