Authors :
Chipo Ng'andu; James Mutambo
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/2k2uhcdy
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1220
Note : A published paper may take 4-5
working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and
ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Financial inclusion remains a critical challenge for smallholder farmers (SHFs) in Zambia despite rapid growth
in Digital Financial Services (DFS). This study empirically investigates the role of DFS in enhancing financial inclusion
among SHFs in Ndola District, Zambia, and identifies key drivers and barriers to adoption and usage. A cross-sectional
mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative data from 200 SHFs with qualitative data from 4 Focus Group
Discussions and 10 Key Informant Interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary
logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Keywords :
Digital Financial Services, Financial Inclusion, Smallholder Farmers, Mobile Money, Binary Logit Model, Zambia.
References :
- Bank of Zambia. (2022). National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2022-2026. Lusaka: BoZ.
- Chanda, J., Mwange, A., Matandiko, G., & Sylvia, A. M. (2026). Assessing the levels of mobile financial technology adoption among small-scale farmers in Zambia. Journal of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Animal Science, 3(1), 1-8.
- Demirgüç-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., Singer, D., Ansar, S., & Hess, J. (2018). The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring financial inclusion and the fintech revolution. World Bank.
- FinScope Zambia. (2015). FinScope Zambia 2015 consumer survey report. Lusaka.
- FinScope Zambia. (2020). FinScope Zambia 2020 consumer survey report. Lusaka.
- FSD Zambia. (2022). The Zambia Financial Inclusion Survey 2022. Lusaka: FSD Zambia.
- GSMA. (2023). The State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2023. London: GSMA Association.
- Jack, W., & Suri, T. (2016). The long-run poverty and gender impacts of mobile money. Science, 354(6317), 1288-1292.
- Karlan, D., Kendall, J., Mann, R., Pande, R., Suri, T., & Zinman, J. (2016). Research and impacts of digital financial services. Journal of Economic Literature, 54(2), 123-47.
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- Kouandou, A. (2025). Mobile banking, agricultural productivity and welfare: Household panel data evidence from West Africa. Review of Development Economics.
- Mwalupaso, G.E., Geng, X., & Yasin, S.I. (2025). Financial inclusion for sustainable agriculture: Pathways among smallholder women farmers in rural Zambia. PLOS ONE, 20(7), e0326980.
- Ogunfolaju, M. O., Kolawole, A. E., Akangbe, J. A., Onyemenam, J., Okonta, O., & Ojo, I. E. (2026). Determinants of digital financial service usage among smallholder farmers in North Central Nigeria. JZU Natural Science.
- Ouma, S. A., Odongo, T. M., & Were, M. (2017). Mobile financial services and financial inclusion: Is it a boon for savings mobilization? Review of Development Finance, 7(1), 29-35.
- Suri, T., & Jack, W. (2016). The long-run poverty and gender impacts of mobile money. Science, 354(6317), 1288-1292.
- World Bank. (2022). Global Financial Development Report 2022: Financial Inclusion for Recovery and Growth. World Bank.
- World Bank. (2023). World Development Indicators: Zambia. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/country/zambia
- ZICTA. (2023). Quarterly Sector Statistics Report Q4 2022. Lusaka: Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority.
Financial inclusion remains a critical challenge for smallholder farmers (SHFs) in Zambia despite rapid growth
in Digital Financial Services (DFS). This study empirically investigates the role of DFS in enhancing financial inclusion
among SHFs in Ndola District, Zambia, and identifies key drivers and barriers to adoption and usage. A cross-sectional
mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative data from 200 SHFs with qualitative data from 4 Focus Group
Discussions and 10 Key Informant Interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary
logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Keywords :
Digital Financial Services, Financial Inclusion, Smallholder Farmers, Mobile Money, Binary Logit Model, Zambia.