Increasing Ghanaian fish farms’ productivity: Does the use of the internet matter?

Abstract

Information and communication and technologies (ICTs) have contributed to national development in recent years. However, less is known on how ICT could help improve productivity in the aquaculture field. This study investigates how the use of the Internet can help improve fish farms' productivity. More specifically, using survey data from two regions in Ghana and the econometric model approach, this study explored the quantitative impacts of Internet use on fish farm productivity. The results are as follows. First, the study revealed that Internet use is affected by household total land holdings, access to credit and off-farm employment, education, being a member of an association and how household perceives the use of the internet and household head age. Second, regarding the quantitative relationship, Internet use can help increase farm productivity. Compared with males, the impact of female heads’ Internet use on farm productivity is more prominent. Finally, the productivity effect of Internet use for farmers with no access to off-farm work is greater than that for those with off-farm work access. Our findings provide policy implications to improve farm household Internet use and fish farms production.