Toward e-agriculture in Ghana: Effect of mobile phone access and usage on household crop income

The concept of e-Agriculture has become prominent in recent times as a mechanism for the modinization of agriculture especially in developing nations like Ghana. The concept encompasses the creation of a platform for utilizing Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-mediated tools by practitioners such as extensionists and farmers to promote agricultural production and productivity. A key component of e-Agriculture is the use of mobile phones in agriculture. In Ghana, there is little knowledge of the factors driving access and usage of mobile phones by farmers and the associated impact on household crop income. To provide empirical evidence of mobile phone access and usage and the impact on crop income, this study was carried out relying on data from 2,662 respondents. Specifically, the study categorized mobile phone usage into agricultural and non-agricultural use. Multinomial endogenous treatment effect model was employed to assess the drivers of mobile phone usage and the impact of usage on crop income. The results showed that cost of airtime, location of the household, and access to electricity significantly influenced mobile phone usage for both agricultural and non-agricultural purposes. Furthermore, gender, educational status, and livestock ownership significantly influenced mobile phone usage for agricultural purposes. With regard to impact, the results showed that crop income increased with mobile phone usage, with a higher-income effect for agricultural usage. The study therefore recommends that the National Communication Authority (NCA) should partner with telecommunication companies to ensure that mobile network connectivity is made available and accessible to rural communities to promote mobile phone usage. Also, extension agents should adopt the use of mobile phones to render extension services in order to reach more farmers. Meanwhile, reducing the tax on airtime for rural dwellers will go a long way to promote mobile phone usage and increase crop income.

Automated summary

E-Agriculture has become prominent in modernizing agriculture in developing nations, like Ghana, and utilizes ICT-mediated tools to promote agricultural production and productivity. Mobile phone usage in agriculture is a key component, however, there is little knowledge of the factors driving access and usage by farmers in Ghana. This study analyzed data from 2,662 respondents and found that factors such as cost of airtime, location of the household, and access to electricity significantly influenced mobile phone usage. Additionally, gender, educational status, and livestock ownership also played a significant role. The study recommends partnership between the National Communication Authority and telecommunication companies to ensure mobile network connectivity in rural areas, adoption of mobile phones by extension agents to reach more farmers, and reduction of tax on airtime for rural dwellers to promote mobile phone usage and increase crop income.