Attributes of Diffusion of Innovation’s Influence on Smallholder Farmers’ Social Media Adoption in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

First I highly appreciate the authors effort in dealing with timely important research subject - investigating the difference in technical attributes of the diffusion of innovation theory based on the socio-economic characteristics of smallholder farmers. The paper is well structured and generate policy relevant outcomes. However, following points are noted for further improvement of the paper.

1. In the introduction section, authors should further elaborate the research problem highlighting importance of research area in terms of food production, particularly the food security in the region. It is obvious that new technological adoption would enhance the agricultural production and productivity so that it is recommend to articulate the evidence related to outcomes of social media adoption on production and productivity using the existing knowledge in the field. 

Second, the authors should provide details related to sampling and selection of study area. Specifically, it needs specific reasons for using purposive sampling techniques and justifications for selecting the study area. 

Third, authors are suggested to further improve the results section adequately comparing results with existing studies in the field. Specifically, discussion on derived results would be improved citing the relevant studies. That part is lacking in the study.

Fourth, authors are suggested to clearly differentiate the theoretical contribution and policy implications of the study in the conclusion section of the study.

Good luck 

Author Response

Reviewer comment/s	Page	Correction/s made
Reviewer 1
In the introduction section, authors should further elaborate the research problem highlighting importance of research area in terms of food production, particularly the food security in the region. It is obvious that new technological adoption would enhance the agricultural production and productivity so that it is recommend to articulate the evidence related to outcomes of social media adoption on production and productivity using the existing knowledge in the field.	2	Addressed: Introduction section: refer to track changes Line 79-90.
Second, the authors should provide details related to sampling and selection of study area. Specifically, it needs specific reasons for using purposive sampling techniques and justifications for selecting the study area.	5-6	Addressed: Methodology section: refer to track changes Line 211-212. Line 222-229. Line 235-238. Line 247-257.
Third, authors are suggested to further improve the results section adequately comparing results with existing studies in the field. Specifically, discussion on derived results would be improved citing the relevant studies. That part is lacking in the study.	8-16	Addressed: Results and discussion section: refer to track changes Line 284-291. Line 296-303. Line 323-326. Line 333-336. Line 343-347. Line 366-372. Line 385-393. Line 421-426. Line 455-463.
Fourth, authors are suggested to clearly differentiate the theoretical contribution and policy implications of the study in the conclusion section of the study.	16	Addressed: Conclusion section: refer to track changes Line 491-493 Line 498-499 Line 501-506

Reviewer 2 Report

1.The sampling technique used in this study was convenience sampling，and the sample size is small，the sample is too limited，it can not fully representative of regional small-scale farmers；

 2.All the empirical results are significantly different, whether they truly reflect the statistical characteristics of the sample and the total ；

 3.Among the study findings，how the five attributes of the diffusion of innovation effect guide smallholder farmers' use of social media is not explored in depth, and the study is limited to analyzing the empirical data results。

Author Response

 

Reviewer comment/s	Page	Correction/s made
REVIEWER 2
The sampling technique used in this study was convenience sampling，and the sample size is small，the sample is too limited，it cannot fully representative of regional small-scale farmers	6	Addressed: Methodology section: refer to track changes Line 235-238. Line 247-257.
Among the study findings，how the five attributes of the diffusion of innovation effect guide smallholder farmers' use of social media is not explored in depth, and the study is limited to analyzing the empirical data results	8-16	Addressed: Results and discussions section: refer to track changes Line 284-291. Line 296-303. Line 323-326. Line 333-336. Line 343-347. Line 366-372. Line 385-393. Line 421-426. Line 455-463.

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

This study investigated the relationship between the attributes of the diffusion of innovation theory and the socio-economic characteristics that influence social media adoption. An Independent-Samples T-test and a one-way ANOVA were used for data analysis. I read the author's revision and improvement of the past content, and agree to publish.