The Role of Internet on Agricultural Sector Performance in Global World

Abstract

The Internet is considered to be an important factor in accelerating economic growth. There is a statistic regarding the inline of higher economic growth with higher Internet access. However, the impact of the Internet on agriculture as a real sector regarding its contribution on economic growth has not been explored in detail. The purpose of this study is to analyze the global effect of the Internet on agricultural sector performance. Static panel regression was used in this study by involving 126 countries using data from World Bank Open Data (2012–2019). Extended analysis was employed by applying the regression into two classifications, namely, countries by continent and the country composition of World Economic Outlook (WEO) groups. The result of this study shows that there exists a positive and significant global effect from Internet users, fixed broadband subscriptions, and secure Internet servers on agricultural sector performance. Additionally, the positive effect of Internet variables on agriculture was only found in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In the country composition of WEO groups, there existed a positive and significant effect of Internet users and fixed broadband subscriptions on agricultural sector performance in economies classified as emerging and developing. This implies that the role of the Internet on agriculture is relatively higher in developing countries. Therefore, policymakers in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and emerging and developing economies (WEO Groups) must consider the role of Internet to improve agricultural sectors.