Mediated influence of digital agriculture technologies on climate-smart agriculture decisions among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
- 1Center of Excellence in Agri-food Systems and Nutrition (CE-AFSN), Eduardo Mondlane University
- 2Department of Economics and Agrarian Development, Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, Julius Nyerere Avenue
Abstract
Digital agricultural technologies like remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), artificial intelligence (AI), mobile-based advisory services, and the Internet of Things (IoT) potentially promise to enhance smallholder farmers’ climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption decisions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examines how digital technologies influence smallholder farmers’ decision-making regarding the adoption of climate-smart practices in SSA, focusing on identifying key technological pathways that enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. The study explored the role of digital agricultural tools in influencing CSA adoption. A critical analysis of 82 selected peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted, identified through academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review synthesized findings to identify consistent pathways through which digital tools support climate adaptation and agricultural resilience. Results indicate that digital technologies influence decision-making through three pathways: real-time information provision using IoT sensors and remote sensing, predictive analytics for climate risk assessment using artificial intelligence and machine learning, and optimized timing of farm operations through digital advisory and early warning systems. Empirical evidence shows improvements in resource use efficiency, yield stability, and climate risk preparedness using decision-support tools, although adoption remains constrained by barriers such as limited digital literacy, infrastructural challenges, affordability constraints, institutional capacity, social fabric limitations, and gender inequality. We conclude that digital technologies significantly enhance CSA adoption by reducing uncertainty and improving farm-level decision-making, although investment in infrastructure, digital literacy, and institutional support remains critical for scaling sustainable climate adaptation outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{ogutu2026mediated,
title = {{Mediated influence of digital agriculture technologies on climate-smart agriculture decisions among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review}},
author = {Calvince Andele Ogutu and Eunice Paula Armando Cavane},
journal = {Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.3389/fsufs.2026.1818609},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2026.1818609},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mediated influence of digital agriculture technologies on climate-smart agriculture decisions among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
AU - Calvince Andele Ogutu
AU - Eunice Paula Armando Cavane
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/02
JO - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
DO - 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1818609
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2026.1818609
AB - Digital agricultural technologies like remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), artificial intelligence (AI), mobile-based advisory services, and the Internet of Things (IoT) potentially promise to enhance smallholder farmers’ climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption decisions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study examines how digital technologies influence smallholder farmers’ decision-making regarding the adoption of climate-smart practices in SSA, focusing on identifying key technological pathways that enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. The study explored the role of digital agricultural tools in influencing CSA adoption. A critical analysis of 82 selected peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted, identified through academic databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review synthesized findings to identify consistent pathways through which digital tools support climate adaptation and agricultural resilience. Results indicate that digital technologies influence decision-making through three pathways: real-time information provision using IoT sensors and remote sensing, predictive analytics for climate risk assessment using artificial intelligence and machine learning, and optimized timing of farm operations through digital advisory and early warning systems. Empirical evidence shows improvements in resource use efficiency, yield stability, and climate risk preparedness using decision-support tools, although adoption remains constrained by barriers such as limited digital literacy, infrastructural challenges, affordability constraints, institutional capacity, social fabric limitations, and gender inequality. We conclude that digital technologies significantly enhance CSA adoption by reducing uncertainty and improving farm-level decision-making, although investment in infrastructure, digital literacy, and institutional support remains critical for scaling sustainable climate adaptation outcomes.
SN - 2571-581X
ER -