Determinants of use of digital innovation and its impact on land acquisition and food security among farming households in Nigeria

Abstract

• This study explores digital innovation , land access, and food security using GHS-Panel data from 5,051 farm households. • Despite 94.56% mobile ownership, many remain digitally excluded due to low internet use and insecure land tenure . • Age, education, household size, asset value, and financial access all significantly affect digital innovation adoption. • Digital tools, gender, education, and remittances improve land access and food security for rural Nigerian farmers. • Findings highlight the urgency of inclusive digital and land reform policies to boost food security in rural areas. This study explores the interplay between digital innovation, land acquisition, and food security among farming households in Nigeria—a nexus that has received limited empirical attention. Drawing on data from the General Household Survey (GHS-Panel) by the National Bureau of Statistics under the LSMS framework, the analysis includes 5,051 farming households. A combination of analytical techniques—descriptive statistics, Double Hurdle model, Probit regression, Endogenous Switching Probit regression, and the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS)—was used to investigate these relationships. Findings show that the average household head was 50 years old with seven years of education; most households were male-headed (80 %) and averaged five members. Despite high mobile phone ownership (94.56 %), digital exclusion persists, as 61.56 % of households lacked internet access, and 78.23 % did not hold legally registered land. Only 3 % had access to formal credit, and over half cultivated less than one hectare of land. The average HDDS was 9, with 53 % of households deemed food secure. Regression results revealed that digital innovation adoption was significantly influenced by age, education, asset value, household size, and access to finance. Moreover, digital innovation, gender, remittance income, and education significantly improved land access and food security, highlighting the need for targeted digital inclusion policies in rural Nigeria.