The Role of ICT in Advancing Farmer Welfare: A Systematic Literature Review of Multidimensional Outcomes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7160/aol.2026.180207How to Cite
Abstract
Existing studies on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in agriculture often reduce farmer welfare to economic outcomes, overlooking its social, psychological, and environmental dimensions. This narrow perspective limits a comprehensive understanding of how ICT contributes to rural development. To address this gap, this study systematically reviews peer-reviewed articles published between 2014 and 2024 using the PRISMA protocol. The results map the types of ICT interventions, welfare indicators, and pathways through which ICT influences farmer welfare. The findings show that ICT adoption through mobile communication, digital platforms, and internet-based services enhances not only income and productivity but also social capital, livelihood assets, and subjective well-being. These positive outcomes are more pronounced when ICT adoption is accompanied by extension services, credit access, and capacity-building programs. However, the analysis reveals that infrastructural limitations, digital illiteracy, and financial barriers hinder ICT’s full potential, especially among marginalized farmers. The evidence also shows regional imbalances, with research concentrated in a few countries, limiting generalization. By developing a conceptual framework, this review advances a multidimensional understanding of ICT’s role in improving farmer welfare. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers and development practitioners to design inclusive and context-sensitive ICT interventions for sustainable rural transformation.References
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