FARM HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL SERVICES IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Access to agricultural services promotes agricultural production and livelihoods of smallholders in most devel oping countries. This study explores the factors affecting smallholders' access to agricultural services in northern Ghana. The study relied on survey data for the analysis. We estimated a multivariate probit model to assess the factors influencing access to agricultural services and a generalized Poisson regression model to evaluate the factors affecting the degree of access to these services. The results indicated that farmers had varying degree of access to different agricultural services. The most accessed service was agricultural extension (63% access) while the least was farm credit (40% access). Access to services and the degree of access (number of services accessed) were both influenced by household size, farming experience, household income, farmer group membership, and geographical location. In addition, the number of services accessed by farmers was influenced by participation in off-farm work. The paper proposed measures to enhance smallholders’ access to agricultural services to promote agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods.