Determinants of Agricultural Products Value Chain Actors' Use of Electronic Banking Platforms in Accessing Savings in Southeast Nigeria
Abstract
This study focused on analyzing the determinants of agricultural products value chain actors' use of e-banking platforms in accessing savings in Southeast Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socioeconomic characteristics of the agricultural products value chain actors; ascertained their level of use of e-banking platforms in advancing access to savings; correlated the relationship between the use of e-banking platforms and access to savings by actors in agricultural products value chains, estimated the determinants of use of e-banking platforms in accessing savings by agricultural products value chain actors and examined the motivating factors for the use of -banking platforms in accessing savings by agricultural products value chain actors in the study area. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted in selecting a total of eighty (80) respondents used in the study. Primary source of data was used for the study. Data for the study was obtained using structured questionnaires and personal interviews. Data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages, and means and econometric tools such as Pearson product-moment correlation and probit regression technique. Findings showed that the majority of the agricultural products value chain actors are males (62%), married (55%), had tertiary education (40%), owned certificate of business registration (70%), belonged to a cooperative society (72%), uses social media (63%) and saves their money in the bank (97%). E-banking application platform was identified as the most used platform for accessing savings by these actors. In addition, e-banking apps, Quickteller, and ATM services strongly correlated with access to savings by agricultural products value chain actors at 1%, 1%, and 5% levels of significance. Sex, age, level of education, membership of cooperation, target market, time-saving, easy business transactions, and access to internet facilities significantly determined e-banking platforms by agricultural value chain actors in the study area. The study recommends that agricultural products value chain actors receive ongoing training on how to use e-banking platforms to access their saved money, as this will increase their access to other financial services necessary to keep their enterprises sustainable.
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