Transforming smallholder farmers business towards agribusiness: A framework using ICT

• Published in: Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Main Author: Mohd Danuri M.S.N.; Shahibi M.S.; Abdul Kadir M.R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072253340&partnerID=40&md5=25743fa543b39aee9815c6d72236a513

This paper introduces a framework using ICT to transform smallholder farmers’ traditional business towards agribusiness in Malaysia by extending the existing theoretical framework. The introduction of agribusiness to the farmers is not well understood and difficult to implement due to their limitations as smallholder farmers. The framework outlining ICT usage which was improved through identifying major factors affecting agribusiness transformation by using ICT such as environment (ENV), technology (TECH), farm work design (FWD), and information system elements (ISE). This paper focuses on testing relationships between ENV and TECH which acting as independent variables (IVs) towards agribusiness transformation using ICT as dependent variable (DV). The moderation effect of ISE and FWD acting as moderation variables (ModVs) which interacted with TECH towards agribusiness transformation using ICT were also being investigated in this paper by using slope analysis. This research used a quantitative approach to explore the nature of the phenomenon through the underpinned theory available in information systems theories such as technology-organisation-environment (TOE), technology acceptance model (TAM), diffusion of innovation (DOI), and task-technology fit (TTF). The method chosen in this research was questionnaire, which was distributed to more than 209 smallholder farmers in Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan (TKPM) in Selangor. The statistical results provided the researcher the opportunity to outline the ICT usage framework to be used to transform smallholder farmers’ traditional business towards technological intensive agribusiness. Overall, the findings outline the low level of information system elements and farm work design influencing the technological effect towards agribusiness transformation using ICT. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press