Adoption of improved maize variety among farm households in the northern region of Ghana

Abstract

This study aims to identify the determinants of adoption of improved maize variety (IMV) among farmers in the northern region of Ghana and subsequently assess the factors influencing the intensity of IMV adoption. The study used two econometric techniques to address its objectives. Firstly, a multinomial logit was employed to identify factors affecting the adoption of IMV. Secondly, Tobit regression was used to analyze the determinants of the intensity of IMV adoption. A fractional regression model through the procedure proposed by Papke and Wooldridge was also used to test the robustness of the results obtained from the Tobit model. Results from the study revealed that variables such as the age of the household head, household size, level of experience, farm workshop attendance, the number of years in formal education, access to agricultural credit, membership of a farmer-based organization, availability of labor and extension contacts influence the adoption of IMV. Moreover, variables such as years in formal education, household size, distance to farm plots, attendance of demonstration fields, membership of a farmer-based organization, farm size, and previous income are significant determinants of the intensity of IMV adoption. The study has implications for achieving food security and poverty reduction through agricultural productivity growth.

Keywords:

• Adoption
• improved maize variety
• relative risk ratio
• intensity
• multinomial logit
• Tobit model

Public Interest Statement

Since the emergence of the Green Revolution, investments in agriculture has resulted in the development and dissemination of many improved crop varieties (ICV) for cultivation by farmers worldwide. The development of these ICVs is geared toward increasing farm productivity and income, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and minimizing food insecurity, particularly among developing economies like Ghana. However, research has shown that in smallholder farming communities in developing countries, adoption of ICV including improved maize varieties (IMV) is relatively low. The study, investigates the determinants of adoption and adoption intensity of IMV in the northern region of Ghana. Empirical findings from the study confirm that farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, institutional and policy factors significantly influence adoption and adoption intensity of IMV. The study, therefore, recommends that farm-level strategies oriented toward the adoption of ICV, in general, is very crucial to enhance productivity growth in the Ghanaian agricultural economy.

Notes

1. The Ghana Poverty and Inequality study was conducted by Cooke, Hague, and McKay (2016), using the Ghana Living Standard Survey round six.

2. The five maize cultivated agro-ecological zones are; (1) Coastal Savannah zone that runs along the coast of Ghana (Central, Greater Accra and the southern part of Volta regions); (2) The High rainforest zone which covers most part of the Western region and a small portion of the central region; (3) The semi-deciduous forest zone stretches from Ashanti, Eastern, Southern part of the Brong-Ahafo region and some parts of the Western region; (4) The forest savannah lies in the middle portion of Brong-Ahafo, the northern part of both Ashanti and Eastern regions and the Western portion of Volta region, and (5) the Guinea Savannah which covers the whole of Northern and Upper West regions. However, in the Sudan Savannah zone within the Upper East region, maize is cultivated in areas within some parts of Navrongo and Bawku.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gideon Danso-Abbeam

Gideon Danso-Abbeam is a lecturer and a researcher at the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University for Development Studies, Ghana, where he teaches courses in applied economics at the undergraduate level. Gideon is currently a PhD student with the Discipline of Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. His research interest includes adoption, efficiency and impact evaluation studies.

Joshua Antwi Bosiako

Joshua Antwi Bosiako holds Bsc in Agribusiness (Resource Economics option) and currently a technical officer with the socioeconomic department of Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Tamale, Ghana. His main research interests include adoption and impact studies.

Dennis Sedem Ehiakpor

Dennis Sedem Ehiakpor is a lecturer and a PhD candidate at the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University for Development Studies, Ghana. His main research activities are in the area of agricultural marketing and finance, adoption as well as impact studies.

Franklin Nantui Mabe

Franklin Nantui Mabe is a lecturer and a PhD candidate at the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University for Development Studies, Ghana. Franklin has researched and published on various themes relating to adoption, efficiency and welfare economics.