Adoption and Performance of Mobile Banking Applications in Kenyan Agriculture Trading Markets: A Mixed-Methods Study Over Two Years

Mobile banking applications have gained traction in various sectors including agriculture trading markets, offering a convenient platform for farmers to manage transactions and access financial services directly through their mobile phones. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys for data collection on adoption rates and interviews for understanding performance experiences. Data analysis uses statistical software for quantifiable results and thematic coding for qualitative insights. A total of 450 farmers participated in the survey, with a 32% adoption rate of mobile banking applications over two years. Interviews revealed that ease of use and cost savings were key drivers of adoption, while reliability issues emerged as significant barriers to performance. The study concludes that while mobile banking applications show promise for facilitating agricultural trading in Kenya, challenges related to application reliability need addressing to improve overall performance outcomes. Policy makers should prioritise enhancing the technical robustness of mobile banking platforms and fostering community engagement to maximise their benefits for farmers.