Are Farmers Using Digital Tools Meaningfully?
Smallholder farmers are signing up for digital tools at a growing pace—but are they truly ‘adopting’ them, and has their way of farming changed?
In this new study, 60 Decibels partnered with 18 agtech companies across Kenya, Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, and Ghana to hear directly from nearly 5,000 farmers using Digital Farmer Services (DFS). We developed a new, farmer-centric metric called the Meaningful Use Index—a simple way to tell if farmers have truly engaged with the service.
> We found that 35–48% of farmers are meaningfully using these tools—highlighting real potential for improvement.
> We also learned that farmers using DFS for over a year report stronger outcomes—showing how trust and long-term use drive impact.
> And we discovered that female farmers are benefiting in unique ways—many are using these services for the first time and finding them more convenient than any alternative.
Whether it’s accessing weather forecasts, getting credit to buy fertilizer, or connecting directly with buyers, digital tools are transforming farming. But they’re only truly effective when they meet farmers’ needs, earn their trust, and improve their livelihoods.
Read the full report to explore:
- How to measure meaningful adoption of DFS
- What drives impact across information, input, market, and credit services
- Why gender matters in designing for scale
- What digital providers can do to deepen engagement
Check out our lean guide to measuring meaningful use or discover more resources on digital farmer services here.