Factors influencing the adoption of information and communication technologies by farmers: The case of Yozgat province in Türkiye

The adoption of technologies and the effective use of resources in the development of agricultural production are important in rural areas. This study has four objectives. First, to determine the purpose of farmers' use of information and communication technologies (ICTs); second, to identify the barriers to ICT use; third, to determine the factors affecting the use of ITC; and fourth, to explain the relationship between ICT use and socioeconomic variables. To achieve this goal, data were collected from 211 farmers who grow wheat in Sarıkaya district of Yozgat province through a survey. Farmers' reasons for using ICT and barriers to ICT use were explained using descriptive statistics. The relationship between ICT use and socio-economic variables was explained by Spearman's Rho correlation. The effects of the factors on ICT adoption and use were calculated using structural equation modeling. The research results show that the three main barriers to the use of ICT by farmers are insufficient knowledge, traditionalism of farmers and high costs. It was found that farmers mainly use ICT for communication, weather forecasting and general information search. Perceived benefit was found to have a 42% influence on the adoption and use of ICT by farmers, attitude had a 41% influence and perceived benefit had a 49% influence on attitude. As perceived benefit has an impact on both attitude development and ICT use, it can be suggested as a result of this research that practical training and projects be carried out to enable farmers to perceive the benefits of ICT.