Farm income and food security under <i>ex situ</i> rainwater harvesting in Northern Ghana

Purpose This study aims to investigate the impact of ex situ rainwater harvesting (hereinafter, RWH) on farm income (FI) and food security in northern Ghana. Understanding these impacts is crucial for informing policies that improve productivity and food security. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a survey of 713 farm households. The control function approach and propensity score matching (hereinafter PSM) techniques were used to estimate the impact of ex situ RWH on FI and food security. Findings The study found that ex situ RWH had a 47.8% higher FI, 7.13% higher food consumption score and 3.99% lower food insecurity access score. Further, increasing the area of land under ex situ RWH enhances these benefits, with the greatest gains at higher levels of land under RWH. Research limitations/implications The study relies on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias. Additionally, the results may not be generalizable beyond the specific context of northern Ghana. Originality/value This study fills a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of ex situ RWH. It demonstrates the substantial benefits of ex situ RWH on FI and food security and underscores the importance of targeted policies to maximize these benefits.