ICT adoption and household economic outcomes among women entrepreneurs in Indonesia’s agri-food system

This study investigates whether engagement to information and communication technologies (ICT) is associated with women’s entrepreneurship in Indonesia’s agri-food system (AFS), and whether ICT use enhances the welfare of women who operate AFS enterprises. This study utilizes data from the 2023 Indonesia Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS) and the 2023 Village Potential Statistics (PODES), which provide insights into ICT infrastructure. Focusing on women entrepreneurs in Indonesia, the dataset comprises 161,276 observations of individuals aged 18–65. Employing Propensity Score Matching (PSM), the findings reveal that each sub-sector within the agri-food system (AFS) operates under distinct traditions and conditions, necessitating a tailored approach to ICT implementation. General ICT knowledge alone is insufficient, indicating the need for targeted digital literacy programs and infrastructure improvements. Notably, the horticulture sector shows a positive and statistically significant Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) (0.007, T −stat = 1.960), suggesting that ICT adoption could provide tangible benefits for women entrepreneurs in the AFS, potentially by improving market access and production efficiency. Furthermore, ICT usage contributes to a reduction in the proportion of food expenditure among women entrepreneurs in agriculture, food, and horticulture, driven by enhanced income generation, improved financial planning, and strategic resource allocation. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific ICT interventions and comprehensive policy support to effectively leverage digital technologies for women’s entrepreneurship and economic resilience in Indonesia’s AFS.