UNDERLYING CONSTRUCTS OF FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND ADOPTION DECISION TOWARDS GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

As the debate on commercialization of Genetically Modified (GM)) crops continue to rage the perspectives of smallholder farmers in Africa regarding this novel technology is increasingly becoming relevant and imperative for both agricultural policy makers and researchers alike. This study assessed underlying constructs characterising smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adoption decision towards the cultivation of GM crops. The study was conducted in the three northern regions of Ghana namely - Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. Through multi – stage sampling technique 360 smallholder farmers belonging to 120 Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) from 10 sampled districts across the three northern regions were surveyed. Descriptive survey design and Q methodological procedure of gathering narratives were employed in sourcing data for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics, discourse analysis and probit regression analysis were employed in analysing the study’s data. The findings of the study revealed that smallholder farmers have very little knowledge about GM crops. Analysis of respondents’ narratives on what they understood about GM crops revealed wide arrays of patchy and vague ideas. Q-factor analysis of respondents’ narratives on their views about GM crops identified four underlying constructs characterising the perceptions of smallholder farmers towards GM crops. The constructs were ‘GM crops positive or progressive perceivers, ‘GM crops negative perceiver’, ‘GM crops cynic or sceptic perceivers’ and ‘GM crops neutral or dispassionate perceivers’. Regarding GM crops adoption decision among smallholder farmers surveyed, findings of the study revealed that many (41%) of the respondents intended adopting GM crops cultivation when commercialization commenced in Ghana. Results of the probit regression analysis shows that some selected demographic characteristics such as age, household size and marital status and farm characteristics such as farm seize, experience in crop farming, source of information on GM crops and use of certified seeds significantly influenced farmers’ adoption decision towards GM crops. In general, smallholder farmers surveyed have high hopes of GM technology being used to incorporate drought tolerant, early maturing and high yielding traits into their local crop varieties and help reduce cost of weed, pest and disease control. However, the cost of GM seed and the possible unreliability of its supply were ranked as the most important possible constraints that might limit their cultivation of GM crops. The study recommends that conscious efforts should be made by Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to actively engage smallholder farmers through their FBOs in formulating and implementing the country’s agrobiotechnology programme. Also National Biosafety Authority should strengthen their public education on biotechnology activities to help create awareness of biosafety regulations and agrobiotechnology research activities in the country.