Abstract

The adoption of digital tools in dairy farming has the potential to enhance productivity, efficiency, and market access. However, gender disparities exist in the utilisation of these technologies. This study examines gender differences in the adoption of digital tools, the willingness to adopt, and the barriers faced by male and female dairy farmers. Using a multistage sampling procedure, data were collected from 80 male and 40 female dairy farmers. Analytical techniques included frequency counts, percentages, t-tests, and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model. Findings revealed that male dairy actors in Uganda have a slightly higher overall awareness of digital products (53.97?±?14.7) than female actors (52.00?±?20.69). Both men and women had low adoption levels of digital tools (females: 1.45 ± 3.83; Males: 1.75 ± 2.49), with male farmers slightly ahead in the use of mobile money applications (27.5%), digital marketing (22.5%), and e-learning platforms (27.5%). Willingness to adopt the unadopted digital tools was significantly higher among men (77.5%) compared to women (60.0%). Regression results showed the gendered barriers to technology adoption by women as limited access to technology (? = 1.425, p = 0.025), Cultural norms (? = 0.111, p = 0.026), and educational qualification (? = 0.111, p = 0.688), while men were only constrained by digital literacy (? = 0.124, p = 0.000). The study concludes that gender disparities in digital adoption are shaped by socioeconomic and cultural factors. To bridge this gap, targeted interventions such as women-focused digital literacy programs, subsidised access to digital tools, and gender-inclusive policy frameworks are recommended. Implementing these strategies will promote inclusive digital transformation in dairy farming, enhancing productivity and sustainability for both male and female farmers.

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