Challenges and opportunities in smallholder agriculture digitization in South Africa

The use of digital technologies in agriculture has resulted in an increase in productivity and market access worldwide. Large-scale farmers have successfully adopted digital technologies. However, smallholder farmers, especially in rural areas, face challenges that hinder the integration of digital technology. This review analysed available literature with the intention to assess the current state of agricultural digitization among smallholder farmers in South Africa and identify key barriers faced by farmers. The study highlights the potential benefits of digital adoption such as enhanced precision farming, improved resource management, and better access to markets. The analysis highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and policy interventions to reduce the digital divide among farmers. The results confirms that the slow adoption of digital technology among smallholder farmer in South Africa is attributed to barriers such as poor infrastructure, limited access financial resources and low levels of digital illiteracy.