Abstract
Credit access remains a persistent barrier for smallholder farmers in Nigeria. This study investigated the role of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICTs) among 120 small household farmers in improving credit access in Enugu State, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling and
regression analysis, results revealed that farmers were predominantly middle-aged males with low formal education and modest income. Most
relied on informal credit sources such as moneylenders (40%) and personal savings (35%), while formal institutions remained underutilized due
to collateral requirements. Mobile phones, radio, and basic management information systems were the primary ICT tools employed, though
advanced technologies like ATMs and digital platforms had limited use. Important variables that significantly impacted how much these small-
scale farmers used ICT to obtain credit information were group membership (p<0.05) and marital status (p<0.1), both of which had a negative
significant influence, but occupation (p<0.05) and education (p<0.1) had a substantial positive influence. The study concludes that ICT adoption
alone is insufficient without supportive infrastructure and training. It recommends expanding rural ICT facilities, offering digital literacy programs,
and developing collateral-light credit products to enhance financial inclusion and agricultural sustainability.
KEYWORDS: ICT, Small-scale farmers, Credit Information, Access
jaerem Ozioma Faith
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