Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of mobile phone usage on sales and profit as the indicator of business performance, to analyse the facilitating roles of mobile phones and factors affecting farmers' decision to use the mobile phone in agribusiness activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Intensive farming was selected in this study due to its higher profitability than other crops. Data were compiled from field surveys of 1,040 farmer households in vegetable production regions of Indonesia. This study employed structural equation modelling, identifying mediating variables and quantifying multiple endogenous variables' direct and indirect effects in simultaneous regression equations.

Findings

The results indicate that mobile phone usage enabled farmers to increase sales, obtain market information, acquire improved agronomic technology, access credit and contact customers. The device enhanced profit through mediations of high sales, reasonable prices and access to credit and market information. The personal attributes of farmers determined the adoption of mobile phones to support agribusiness activities.

Research limitations/implications

This study paid attention to the use of mobile phones, which was considered an integral technology of information and communication. Other components, such as personal computers and other Internet-based devices, need further study.

Practical implications

As the rate of mobile phone use was still low, farmers should be encouraged to utilise the device. Socialisation and specially designed training workshops on agribusiness information systems using mobile phones are of the best ways.

Originality/value

Using structural equation modelling enables to analyse of multi-dependent variables in one model. Farm-level data provide a real situation, and policy implications should address the right target. The subject of this investigation is a semi-subsistence farm household that lacked access to information and communication technology.

中文翻译：

---

使用手机支持印度尼西亚农业企业活动的管理

目的

本研究的目的是评估手机使用对销售和利润的影响作为企业绩效的指标，分析手机的促进作用和影响农民在农业企业活动中使用手机决策的因素。

设计/方法/方法

本研究选择集约化农业是因为其盈利能力高于其他作物。数据来自对印度尼西亚蔬菜产区 1,040 户农户的实地调查。本研究采用结构方程模型，确定中介变量并量化多个内生变量在联立回归方程中的直接和间接影响。

发现

结果表明，手机的使用使农民能够增加销售额、获取市场信息、获得改进的农艺技术、获得信贷和联系客户。该设备通过高销售额、合理​​的价格以及获得信贷和市场信息的中介来提高利润。农民的个人属性决定了采用手机来支持农业综合企业活动。

研究限制/影响

本研究关注移动电话的使用，它被认为是信息和通信不可或缺的技术。其他组件，例如个人计算机和其他基于 Internet 的设备，需要进一步研究。

实际影响

由于手机使用率仍然较低，应鼓励农民使用该设备。社会化和专门设计的关于使用移动电话的农业企业信息系统的培训班是最好的方式。

原创性/价值

使用结构方程建模可以在一个模型中分析多因变量。农场层面的数据提供了真实情况，政策含义应该针对正确的目标。本次调查的对象是一个缺乏信息和通信技术的半自给农户。