Drivers of farmers’ usage of digital marketplace platform: evidence from India

Abstract

Online trading by farmers is a critical component of the agricultural supply chain. Perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness of a digital marketplace enhances trust and then farmers’ intention to use that digital marketplace. This study, by leveraging a mediation model, explores the usage drivers of digital marketplaces by farmers in India. Indeed, farmers' intrinsic propensity to trust generally is a moderator of the relationship between trust and intention to use a digital marketplace. We assert the relationship between (a) perceived ease-of-use of technology and trust and (b) perceived usefulness and trust is moderated by perceived self-efficacy by farmers and the digital marketplace platform provider’s reputation who is offering the digital marketplace service. This study contributes to the field of smart agri-food supply chain literature, by exploring willingness of Indian farmers to trade their produce on digital market places and potential factors of influence.