Internet use and farm households food and nutrition security nexus: The case of rural Ghana

Abstract

The impact of internet use on food and nutrition security of rural households in Ghana is investigated in this study. To offset the potential challenge of selection bias, an endogenous treatment regression (ETR) technique is utilized for the analysis.. The results reveal that Internet use can improve smallholder farmers’ food and nutrition security. Internet usage has a profound positive effect on the food security of households with off-farm work and larger size of landholding. Our results suggest the intensification of efforts to enhance Internet connectivity across the nation by the government and policymakers is essential since it can go a long way to affect household welfare. The findings also highlight the importance of information and communication technologies (ICTs), the Internet, patronization to improve rural household welfare.