Do Information and Communication Technologies Promote Climate‐Smart Irrigation in Sub‐Saharan Africa?
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Irrigation is vital for climate resilience and food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), yet its expansion remains constrained by climatic and structural barriers. Although information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer opportunities for climate‐smart irrigation, evidence across diverse SSA remains limited. Using panel data from 20 SSA countries (2000–2023), this study employs fixed‐effects (FE) and dynamic system–GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) estimators to examine the ICT–irrigation relationship, accounting for persistence and potential endogeneity. The findings reveal that ICT effects vary by technology and income level. Internet access consistently promotes irrigation development, particularly in low‐ and upper‐middle‐income economies, potentially by reducing information gaps and improving water management. Conversely, mobile phone penetration does not automatically generate irrigation gains and is negatively associated with irrigation development in lower‐middle‐income economies. Complementary conditions are also crucial: Electricity access and agricultural capital support irrigation development, whereas higher rainfall is associated with lower irrigation intensity, reflecting reduced reliance on irrigation. These findings reveal a development gradient in digital benefits, demonstrating that connectivity alone cannot drive irrigation expansion. Policies should therefore prioritize rural internet access alongside electrification, irrigation infrastructure and agricultural finance, supported by context‐specific digital agriculture strategies to advance climate resilience and sustainable agriculture across SSA.
Source: Irrigation and Drainage
DOI: 10.1002/ird.70255
Language: English
Topic: ICT Impact and Policies
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225698945