Quantifying the impact of agricultural technology usage on intra-household time allocation: Empirical evidence from rice farmers in Ghana

Abstract

The use of improved agricultural technologies that lead to improved productivity, income and food security, could also destabilize intra-household time allocation. Using primary data from 917 rice farmers in Ashanti and Upper East Regions of Ghana, this paper employs a two-stage Bourguignon, Fournier, and Gurgand (BFG) selection bias correction model to quantify the impact of improved rice production technologies on intra-household time allocation. The empirical results indicate that farmers who take up improved rice technologies (fertilizer and improved rice seed) tend to increase labour input in farm work by 13.93 h per week. This has implications for the amount of time available for domestic work and leisure, especially for women in typical rice farming household. The design and development of technological innovations in the agricultural sector should take serious account of the domestic workload of women in farming communities to improve intensity and sustainability of use for both men and women.