INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AND PERFORMANCE OF TEA FARMERS PAYMENT SYSTEMS BY CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN KENYA

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the influence of information and communication technology integration on the performance of cooperative payments to farmers in Kenya. Specifically, the study focused on: Determining the influence of mobile banking security; and examining the influence of digitalized account information on the payment performance of tea farmer cooperatives in Kenya. Descriptive survey design will be adopted. The research focused on 5 private tea cooperatives in Kenya which include Evergreen Tea Factory, Mau Tea Factory, Kaisugu Tea Factory, Kabianga Tea Factory and Kap Chebet Tea Factory. The study used158 top & middle management tea factories in Kericho Kenya who contribute tea to the 5 privately owned cooperatives to get the necessary information. A sample of 113respondents was drawn from the population. Both descriptive and inferential statistics will be done. A pilot study was conducted on 10% of the sample where 11 questionnaires were administered to respondents that will not be used in the main study. The questionnaire was checked for validity and reliability. The study found that Mobile Banking security had a significant negative correlation with performance of tea farmers’ payment by cooperatives. Mobile banking security has a negative significant influence on performance of tea farmers’ payment by cooperatives. The study found Digital Account information have significant positive correlation with performance of tea farmers’ payment by cooperatives. Further, the study found them to have significant positive influence on performance of tea farmers’ payment by cooperatives. The study findings revealed that the independent variables could only influence 49.8% of change of performance of tea farmers’ payment by cooperatives in Kenya. The main findings of the study will be useful to cooperative societies, farmers, and scholars. The study recommends implementation of mobile security measures to enable tea farmers’ full embrace mobile banking without fear. The study also recommends fully integration of ICT by tea farmers’ cooperatives in Kenya. The study also recommends further study to affirm the findings of this study. [1]

[1] Chepkemoi, B. N., Lango, B. & Muchelule, Y., (2023). Information Communication Technology Integration and Performance of Tea Farmers Payment Systems by Co-Operative Societies in Kenya. International Journal of Management and Business Research, 5(1), 166-177