ADOPTION OF NERICA AMONG RICE FARMERS IN TOLON AND KUMBUNGU DISTRICTS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

New Rice for Africa (NERICA), a hybrid between African rice and high-yielding Asian varieties of Oriza sativa, believed to be a magic crop developed in 1994 by WARDA for both upland and lowland cultivation in Africa, was disseminated between 2005 and 2010 by SARI and MoFA to 6,888 rice farmers in the then Tolon/Kumbungu District (now Tolon and Kumbungu Districts) Northern Region, Ghana. The innovation was expected to be adopted by rice farmers in the project area, after 2010. However, the extent to which it was adopted as at 2014 was not determined. This study sought to ascertain the adoption of NERICA in the two districts from 2011 to 2014. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 378 NERICA farmers from 16 NERICA communities for the study. A survey was conducted to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data for the study. Data obtained was analysed using inferential statistics (logistic regression) and descriptive statistics. The study revealed that individual and group extension teaching methods used to disseminate NERICA from 2005 to 2010 to rice farmers in the study area were more appropriate than mass media, due to the nature of the innovation and its potential adopters. Adoption of NERICA in the study area occurred only in 2011 when the project support was still available to the farmers. Disadoption of NERICA occurred in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. Disadoption is a wilful refusal to adopt an innovation after one has earlier adopted it. The innovation on the other hand was compatible, observable, and less complex with relative advantage, triability and possibility of re-invention. Farmers' educational level, whether they thought NERICA was better than other rice varieties in the study area, household size and primary occupation significantly affected their adoption of NERICA. NERICA innovation is regarded as successful but its adoption in the dissemination area is not successful. The project (NRDP) should be reviewed to encourage NERICA adoption in the study area.