Access to Healthcare through Renewable Energy on Female Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, agriculture is a vital component of development and poverty reduction. The native population of Nigeria suffers a slew of challenges that stymie agricultural productivity. One aspect is the low level of female agricultural productivity, which is likewise dependent on other factors. The present level of agricultural output in the Nigerian economy in line with the level of demand necessary to meet the desired expectation of the Nigerian populace will continually pose a threat to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially, SDG-2 (achieve food security through agricultural productivity). This reflects the possible relationship that renewable energy especially in the area of healthcare can have on female agricultural productivity, as considered in this study, which can be a major component of the total agricultural productivity of the Nigerian economy. Therefore, an improvement in female access to healthcare through the input of renewable energy is a possible determinant for an increase in total female agricultural productivity. Using wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standard Measurement Studies, Integrated Survey on Agriculture, the impact of female access to healthcare on female agricultural output in Nigeria was investigated in this study (LSMS-ISA). In addition to other tactics, the study employs the propensity score matching technique for the other specified aims. The estimation result reveals that in Nigeria, there is a significant and positive association between female healthcare access made possible by renewable energy provision and female agricultural production.