Awareness and use of m-banking services in agriculture: The case of smallholder farmers in Kenya
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Smallholder farmer access to agricultural finance has been a major constraint to agricultural
commercialization in developing countries. The ICT revolution in Africa has however brought an
opportunity to ease this constraint. The mobile phone-based banking services that started in
Kenya urban centers have spread to rural areas and even other countries. Using these services
farmers could receive funds invest in agriculture finance transactions. This study examines the
awareness and use of m-banking services among rural farmers in Kenya. It also assesses the
factors conditioning the use of such services. The study finds high awareness of m-banking
services among the smallholder farmers. It also finds that education, distance to a commercial
bank, membership to farmer organizations, distance to the m-banking agents, and endowment
with physical and financial assets affect the use of m-banking services. It discusses the
implications of these findings for policy and practice.