The Greek farmers' ICT skills and the intra-rural digital divide formation

Maria Botsiou, Vassilios Dagdilelis and Stavriani Koutsou

Agricultural Economics Review, 2018, vol. Volume 19, issue Issue 01

Abstract: The phenomenon of the digital divide is one of the main study objects in contemporary societies. This paper focuses on the intra-rural digital divide, presenting a typology based on empirical data retrieved from two Greek Regional Units in a sample of 339 farmers. A scale of 23 ICT skills performed to detect the cognitive and technical ICT skills of the farmers. The Exploratory Factor Analysis demonstrates a solution of 5 skill groups. Considering the factor scores and the farmers' socio-demographic characteristics, a Two-Step Cluster Analysis is carried out, releasing three types of digital maturity. Nonfamiliar with ICTs are the “Digitally Ignorant” farmers, who are low educated, relatively old in age and full-time farmers. Assuming that several innovations in the agricultural sector require increased ICT skills, “Digitally Matures” is potentially the most innovative; however, they are not primarily farmers, a fact that limits this possibility. We argue that human resource development policies in the agricultural sector should focus on “Digitally Teens” as their main occupation is being farmers and their ICT skills could be encouraged through training.

Keywords: International Development; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aergaa:330627

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.330627

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