AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER MECHANISMS AND ADOPTION AMONG SOYBEAN FARMERS IN CHEREPONI DISTRICT OF NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Over the last decade, improved soybean production technologies have been tested and promoted among farmers using different technology transfer mechanisms. Whether the various agricultural technology transfer mechanisms are effective, and whether they have any effect on adoption of soybean production technologies and soybean yields remain unanswered. This study therefore focused on the effectiveness of agricultural technology transfer mechanisms (ATTMs) on adoption and soybean yields in the Chereponi District in the Northern Region of Ghana. Primary data from 300 soybean farmers using a multi-stage sampling approach was deployed. Descriptive statistics was used to present the perceived effectiveness of ATTMs and constraints to adoption of soybean production technologies (SPTs). The multivariate probit and the generalized Poisson regression models were used to analyze factors that influence adoption of SPTS and intensity of adoption respectively. While the effect of ATTMs on adoption of SPTs and soybean yields was analyzed using the recursive conditional mixed process framework. Results showed that demonstration and farmer to farmer methods were perceived by farmers as the most effective in terms of influence on adoption of SPTs. Age of farmer, educational level, household extension method, extension visits, cost of technology and distance to input market affects adoption of SPTs. Age of farmer, education, farming experience, distance to input market, household extension method were among variables that influence intensity of adoption of SPTs. Also, intensity of exposure to ATTMs, soybean project beneficiary and extension visits influenced intensity of adoption of SPTs. The intensity of adoption of SPTs, certified seeds and insecticide use had effects on soybean yields. High cost and non-availability of technologies were the major constraints affecting adoption of SPTs in the study area. The study recommends that stakeholders in the soybean sub-sector should focus on using demonstration and farmer-to-farmer methods in the dissemination of SPTs since these two methods were found to be effective. Agricultural extension agents should play a strong supervisory role in farmer-to-farmer methods of disseminating SPTs to avoid distortion of information. Also, access to education, extension services, mass media, credit and cost of technologies should be improved to promote rapid adoption of soybean production technologies. Furthermore, the study recommends that stakeholders should introduce soybean farmers to different agricultural technology transfer mechanisms so that adoption of multiple technologies can be enhanced. Government should tackle the high cost of triple super phosphate and certified seeds, and the non-availability of inoculants at local input markets by including these technologies in subsidized input packages under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.