Inclusive finance and agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa: the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs)

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to determine the role that ICTs can play in the relationship between inclusive finance and agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa. We formulate hypotheses which are tested empirically using econometric estimates with a sample of 31 sub-Saharan African countries over the period from 2004 to 2020. The results of the analyzes show that inclusive finance through access and use financial services negatively affects agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa. It also appears that ICTs (mobile phones) are the main channels through which inclusive finance positively affects agricultural growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, we recommend that political and economic decision-makers develop technological infrastructures, in this case the increasingly increased use of mobile phones to facilitate access and use of financial services to people living from agriculture in Africa. sub-Saharan.

Keyswords : Inclusive finance, Agriculture growth, Financial services, ICTs, Mobile phones

Classification JEL: C19

Paper type: Empirical research