Do Mobile Agricultural Technologies Improve Crop Productivity? Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria

This paper examines the effectiveness of mobile agricultural tools in improving crop yields among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. Using primary data collected from 795 smallholder farmers in Ebonyi State, the study evaluates the uptake and impact of the RiceAdvice mobile application, which provides timely agronomic advice. Employing a quasi-experimental design with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approaches, the findings reveal that access to mobile tools significantly enhances crop yields, with treated farmers recording an average increase of 1907kg/ha of rice productivity compared to non-users. Results also show improved decision-making regarding the adoption of the technology in relation to experience, RiceAdvice training, access to extension service, smartphone ownership, seed entrepreneurship, and farm size. The study highlights the role of digital extension tools in bridging information gaps and promoting agricultural productivity, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Policy implications suggest scaling up mobile advisory platforms to complement traditional extension systems and improve livelihoods in rural communities.