DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND RURAL LIVELIHOOD - A STUDY OF PEASANT COMMUNITIES IN PRU DISTRICT

Abstract

There are a number of ways by which access to ICT can help boost economic activities of communities in a country with the mobile phone being the most common ICT tool especially in Sub Saharan Africa. To examine the impact of digital technology on rural livelihoods in the Pru district of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, a survey of 212 peasant farmers was conducted. The probit regression results indicate that, digital technology adoption is significantly influenced by age, cost and availability of the technology. Furthermore, digital technologies contribute to the improvement of rural livelihoods by expanding and strengthening social capital, increase people’s ability to deal with emergencies and enhanced efficiency.