Exploring an Automated Agricultural and Economics Extension Platform for Argungu Fishing Festival

Background: This study investigates the critical factors influencing the adoption of the Automated Argungu Fishing Platform, a digital agricultural and economic extension tool designed to enhance participation and improve information dissemination during Nigeria’s renowned Argungu Fishing Festival. Recognizing the importance of culturally embedded digital interventions, the study extends the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) by integrating four key constructs: Social Capital, Human Capital, Financial Capital, and Technological Infrastructure.

Methodology: A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data was collected from festival participants. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships between the extended SLF constructs and users’ behavioral intention to adopt the platform.

Findings/Results: The results reveal that all four constructs significantly and positively influence behavioral intention to adopt the platform. Among them, Social Capital and Financial Capital emerged as the most significant predictors. The model demonstrated moderate explanatory power (R² = 0.287) and strong predictive relevance (Q² = 0.416), suggesting the robustness of the proposed framework in predicting adoption behavior.

Implications: These findings highlight the importance of community networks and financial accessibility in promoting digital platform adoption, especially in informal and rural economies. The study provides a framework that can inform the design and implementation of digital technologies that are responsive to local cultural and socioeconomic contexts.

Conclusion: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge in digital agriculture by presenting a context-specific model that captures the unique dynamics of technology adoption in rural festival settings. The results emphasize the central role of social and financial capital in fostering digital inclusion.

Recommendations: Policymakers, platform developers, and agricultural extension stakeholders should focus on enhancing social network engagement and providing financial support mechanisms to drive the adoption of digital tools. Culturally grounded strategies that align with community norms and practices are essential to ensure sustainable digital transformation in agriculture