Abstract:
Agriculture remains central to the socio-economic development of many developing
countries. Smallholder farmers play a pivotal role here, but are facing systemic
challenges such as unpredictable weather, limited access to market and agronomic
information, pest and disease outbreaks, poor infrastructure, and low levels of
literacy. This study proposes and evaluates an integrated web-based platform to
address these barriers and strengthen agricultural decision-making and resilience.
Using a mixed-methods research design, data were collected through field interviews,
focus groups, and pilot testing conducted over one month with 10 farmers from
selected rural communities. The platform integrates satellite-based weather alerts, AI driven pest diagnostics, SMS and voice-based communication for low-literacy users,
expert advisory services, and a digital marketplace linking farmers with buyers and
transporters. Results show significant improvements in access to timely information,
adoption of improved farming practices, reduction of post-harvest losses, and
participation in formal markets, with high levels of engagement observed among
digitally underserved populations. By building upon and extending prior ICT agriculture initiatives, this study demonstrates the transformative potential of
inclusive digital solutions for enhancing agricultural value chains and promoting
sustainable rural development. The findings hold implications for policymakers,
development agencies, and technology providers seeking scalable, context-sensitive
innovations to empower marginalized farming communities.
