Management Information Systems for Decision-Making in Horticultural Enterprises in Enugu State

Commercial horticultural enterprises in South East Nigeria increasingly operate at scales that require systematic information management to support planting decisions, inventory control, market timing, and financial planning. However, the adoption of management information systems (MIS) among horticultural businesses in Enugu State remains minimal, with most operators relying on informal record-keeping and experiential decision-making. This study assesses the current state of management information use, identifies barriers to MIS adoption, and evaluates the potential impact of MIS implementation among medium-scale horticultural enterprises in Enugu State. A mixed-methods study was conducted using structured questionnaires with 60 horticultural enterprise managers and in-depth interviews with 10 IT service providers serving the agricultural sector. Results indicate that fewer than 20 percent of sampled enterprises use any form of digital record-keeping, and decision-making is predominantly based on informal market observation. Key barriers include limited digital literacy, cost of software acquisition, and absence of agriculture-specific MIS solutions tailored to Nigerian horticultural conditions. The study recommends the development of an affordable, smartphone-based MIS platform tailored for Nigerian horticultural enterprises and a training program to build digital management capacity among horticultural practitioners in Enugu State. Keywords: management information systems, decision-making, horticultural enterprises, Enugu State, digital agriculture