EFFECTS OF DEMAND DRIVEN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION NEEDS ON MAIZE YIELD IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The dissatisfaction of traditional top-down agricultural extension information delivery has intensified for its lack of farmers concerns. This research examined the effects of demand driven agricultural extension information needs on maize yield in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Purposive sampling was used to select the districts and simple random sampling used in the selection of the communities and respondents. A total of 436 farmers and 25 extension agents were interviewed. The multivariate probit analysis, multinomial endogenous treatment effect, and the Kendall coefficient of concordance were used to analyse the data. The results from the multivariate probit regression revealed sex, age, education, household head, armyworm and PFJ as having significant positive effects whereas household size and off farm has negative effects on the usage of agricultural extension needs of farmers. The results from the multinomial endogenous treatment regression showed multiple and complementary usage of agricultural extension information needs. Except those who sought marketing information only, all other categorisation impacted positively and significantly on yield. Machine hours, chemicals, fertilizer, access to credit, improved seed, educational level, membership of FBO, were statistically significant and had positive effect on yield whilst household size and seed had significant negative effect on maize yield. The availability of agricultural extension information was the challenge of maize farmers whereas high extension-farmer ratio was the major challenge in delivering agricultural information to farmers. The study recommends targeting of agricultural information to addressing the multiple needs of farmers and training of more agricultural extension agents to improve the extension agent – farmer ratio.