Design and evaluate a digital farm management training program for rural youth

Thesis Abstract

The persistent lack of practical digital literacy and innovative management skills among rural youth has significantly hindered their active participation in modern agricultural practices, thereby limiting productivity and socioeconomic development within rural communities. This study addresses the urgent need to leverage digital technology for enhancing farm management capabilities among rural youth by designing, implementing, and evaluating a targeted digital farm management training program. The primary aim is to assess the effectiveness of such a program in improving digital competencies, farm management knowledge, and productivity outcomes. Specific objectives include identifying relevant digital tools for farm management, developing a comprehensive training curriculum, evaluating the program's impact on participants’ skills and practices, and proposing scalable models for rural agricultural extension services. The research adopt a mixed-methods approach, employing a quasi-experimental design complemented by qualitative insights. The study was conducted within a defined rural district with a population of approximately 10,000 youth aged 18-35 involved in smallholder farming. From this population, a sample of 200 youth was selected through stratified random sampling, with 100 assigned to the treatment group and 100 to the control group. Data collection involved pre- and post-intervention surveys using validated questionnaires to measure digital literacy, farm management knowledge, and productivity metrics, as well as focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews for qualitative insights. The digital literacy assessment tool was adapted from the European Commission’s Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp 2.1). Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and ANCOVA to assess differences between groups. Thematic analysis was used to interpret qualitative data, while regression analysis explored the predictors of improved farm management practices. Expected findings suggest that participants undergoing the digital farm management training will demonstrate statistically significant improvements in digital literacy levels, farm management knowledge, and productivity parameters compared to the control group. The study anticipates that specific digital tools such as mobile apps for crop planning, weather forecasting, and market pricing will be effectively integrated into participants’ management routines, resulting in enhanced decision-making and resource utilization. Furthermore, the research is expected to reveal key barriers to digital adoption, including limited infrastructure, digital skills gaps, and socio-cultural factors, as well as facilitators such as peer support and accessible training modules. This study contributes valuable empirical evidence to the field of agricultural education by demonstrating that context-specific digital training programs can significantly impact rural youth’s farm management practices, fostering greater technological engagement and economic resilience. It extends existing knowledge by integrating technological pedagogical models with agricultural extension strategies, anchored in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovations theory, to explain adoption behaviors among rural youth. The findings will inform policymakers, extension service providers, and development agencies on designing scalable and sustainable digital training interventions aligned with rural youths’ needs. The main conclusion underscores that tailored digital farm management training significantly enhances rural youths' technical competencies and farm productivity, thus contributing to rural development goals. Recommendations include integrating digital literacy modules into national agricultural extension frameworks, investing in rural ICT infrastructure, and fostering community-based peer learning networks to sustain digital engagement. The study also advocates for further research on long-term impacts and the adaptation of digital training programs across diverse rural contexts to maximize scalability and effectiveness. Overall, this research affirms that strategic digital capacity building is critical for empowering rural youth and modernizing smallholder farming systems.