Will digital solution transform Sub-Sahara African agriculture?

Given its superior importance of digital agricultural solutions to overcome challenges in agricultural activities,many of the solutions are in face of challenges to scale in Sub-Saharan Africa(SSA).On the other hand,the impact of digitalization on economic development in developing countries is documented in several literatures but digital technologies have lately touched the agricultural sector in SSA.The objective of this study was to briefly reviewthe impact of digital solution on smallholder farmers agriculture transformation,and the key and challenges influencing of agricultural digitalization in SSA.We used all-inclusive approach comprising original research articles,peer-reviewed articles,working papers,conference papers,book chapters,database,guide book,and indexes from 60 recent empirical academic studies conducted on impacts on digital solution in the region to produce a broad review.Results showthat digital solution,when effectively used in SSA,has enabled smallholder farmers to gain a wide range of benefits involving access to real timely price,market,and farming information and safe financial transactions,alternative value chain linkages,multifaceted knowledge,better earning and yield,reduce costs,social well-being and risk minimization,women empowerment benefits.In contrast,fail to use adaptable tools,unaffordability,digital illiterateness,low participation of women and old smallholder farmers due to their low income and education status,are main barriers to digitalization in agriculture.Accordingly,it essential to the SSA countries to invest on technologies that is adaptable their target population,ensure balancing regulatory and delivery approaches that permit equal involvement ofwomen,old age category,and remote areas,realize affordable access to digital services through reducing data costs and tax cuts on digital agricultural tools,and offering digital skill training for farmers by segmenting them into their gender,age,and education to fully harness the opportunities of digitalization in agriculture.

The impact of financial inclusion on digital payment solution uptake within the Gulf Cooperation Council Economies

Recognizing the role of society in the sustainability of payment system innovation through the quadruple helix framework,this study analyzes the causal influence of demand-side financial inclusion indicators on society's uptake of digital payment solutions(DPS)within the regional economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council.To this end,the present study relies on data extracted from Global Findex surveys(in 2014 and 2017),as well as the economic theory of random utility maximization,to model individuals'DPS uptake decisions“ceteris paribus.”The maximum likelihood estimation revealed no gender-based gradient in DPS uptake behaviors;additionally,financial inclusion indicators such as transaction account ownership and debit card ownership did not significantly influence endogenous or exogenous DPS uptake decisions between 2013 and 2017.However,all remaining financial inclusion indicators did significantly influence DPS uptake.Assessing these findings through the lens of open innovation and the ongoing efforts from the Arab Regional Payment System project,which seeks to expand financial inclusion by facilitating access to transaction accounts,there is reasonable evidence to suggest that complementary financial inclusion policies addressing the use dimension of DPS(i.e.,extending access to saving and borrowing,along with digital payroll practices for both private and public enterprises)would contribute to more effective policy on financial inclusion in the region.