A Study On Challenges Faced By Farmers Using E-Commerce In Agriculture Sector In Kerala

Abstract

The implementation of e-commerce in agriculture has great potential to enhance farmers' market access and profitability. Nevertheless, farmers in the Indian state of Kerala have distinctive obstacles when it comes to assimilating into the digital economy. This study examines the difficulties encountered by farmers in Kerala using a descriptive analytic methodology. The study centres on five primary domains: 1) Digital Literacy and Infrastructure: Assessing the constraints related to farmers' internet accessibility, smartphone utilisation, and technical proficiency. 2) Analysing the difficulties related to effectively shipping and preserving the quality of perishable agricultural products through e-commerce channels. 3) Examining the absence of clear and open pricing systems and the possibility of being taken advantage of by online middlemen. 4) Investigating farmers' concerns regarding trust and security, specifically related to online transactions, data security, and guaranteeing equitable payment procedures. 5) Evaluating the efficacy of current government initiatives and support systems in facilitating the adoption of e-commerce among farmers in Kerala. The study employs data from agricultural reports, government surveys, and industry publications to construct a thorough depiction of the difficulties encountered by farmers. The research seeks to identify these obstacles in order to provide policymakers and stakeholders with valuable insights for designing specific solutions that can address the digital gap and enable farmers in Kerala to fully utilise e-commerce in the agriculture industry.