Journal of Global Economics, Management and Business Research

Despite growing recognition of mobile phones' potential to transform agriculture, a key knowledge gap persists regarding the specific factors that influence mobile phone use among rural farming households in Nigeria, particularly from a gender perspective. Therefore, this study examines the factors affecting mobile phone use among rural farming households in Nigeria, with a focus on gender considerations. It utilizes secondary data from the 2018/2019 Nigeria General Household Survey (GHS) Panel, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank. Descriptive statistics and a Probit regression model were employed to identify the main drivers of mobile phone usage. The findings reveal a significant gender disparity in mobile phone access: 88.14% of male respondents have access, compared to 75.54% of female respondents. Key factors influencing mobile phone access across households include age, household size, internet access, and electricity availability. Additionally, the study found that male farming households are more likely to have access to a phone than their female counterparts. The results also challenge previous research by showing that higher educational attainment does not significantly impact phone ownership; instead, rural households with no formal education or only primary education are more likely to own a mobile phone. Based on these findings, the study recommends promoting digital literacy among women, improving rural infrastructure, leveraging mobile technology to deliver timely agricultural information to farmers, and developing programs that empower women and provide credit support.