Preferences and applications of information communication technologies among farmers in Kallu district, Wollo, Ethiopia.

Low crop productivity plagues the agricultural sector of the Kallu district, partly due to insufficient extension services. Although ICTs' can revolutionize agriculture, their adoption and effective application remain low in most rural areas. In response, this study bridges this gap by investigating the preferences and applications of ICTs among farmers within the Kallu district. This research innovates how the demographic, socio-economic, infrastructural, and perceptual factors influence ICT choice and application in the farming cycle. The study employed a cross-sectional design, collecting data from 119 respondents using Cochran's formula. Primary data was gathered through surveys and focus group discussions, while various academic sources served as secondary data sources. Data analysis involved a pie chart, ANOVA, chi-square, and multinomial logistic regression. The study revealed that farmers utilized technologies throughout the entire sorghum production cycle. Various factors influencing ICT preference: gender (2.1% rise in female usage), education (0.14% decline), electric power access (0.06%), hedonic motivation (0.2%), and price value (0.5%) rise in the choice of Pico. Farm income (0.000596%), electric power access (52.5%), relative advantage (0.57%), and hedonic motivation (15%) positively raise TV selection. Age (5.3% decline) and farm income (0.00154%), network access (65.9%), electric access (34.3%), relative advantage (67.9%), hedonic motivation (44.6%), compatibility (78.2%), and information quality (44.3%) significantly rise mobile phone usage. These findings highlight technologies that support farmers across various stages of agricultural practices. However, demographic, socio-economic, infrastructural, and perceptional factors significantly influence ICT utilization. Based on the research findings, we recommend tailoring ICT provision by delivering information through various channels, and catering to farmers' diverse needs and circumstances. It is critical to address these influencing factors when designing and implementing ICT-based agricultural interventions.