AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, ADOPTION AND TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF RICE FARMERS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

The demand for rice continues to outstrip supply in Ghana, making the country a net importer of the commodity. Low productivity due to poor technology dissemination and adoption by rice farmers is said to be the major reason for the supply deficit. The main objective of this study was therefore, to draw the link between agricultural technology transfer mechanisms, adoption and technical efficiency of rice farmers in northern Ghana. Specifically, the study assessed various agricultural technology transfer methods and their perceived effectiveness; examined the determinants of adoption of selected improved agricultural technologies; and also estimated the technical efficiency of rice farmers, using data randomly collected from 543 rice farmers. Kendall’s W and Chi squared tests were employed to identify and assess the various agricultural technology transfer methods and their perceived effectiveness. Multivariate probit and Zero Inflated Poisson models were estimated to examine the determinants of adoption of improved agricultural technologies. Also, a framework that corrects for sample selection in stochastic production frontier (SPF) model with propensity score matching (PSM) to resolve biases stemming from both observed and unobserved variables was employed to estimate the technical efficiency of rice farmers. The empirical results show that farmer-to-farmer extension approach, demonstration field, household extension method, and radio were the main extension methods used to disseminate information to farmers. Among the explanatory variables, farmers who attended demonstration field days, and had access to television (TV), radio, and training, had a higher probability to adopt improved technologies such as bunding, irrigation, line planting, briquetting, spacing, harrowing and nursery establishment. On the other hand, farmers who were located in the northern region with larger farm sizes, and received information via household extension method, had lower probabilities of adopting improved rice production technologies. Irrigation farmers were more technically efficient (68%) than their counterparts rainfed farmers (63.4%). Technical efficiency (TE) estimates improved marginally from 60.6% to 62.2% upon implementing the sample selection framework in SFA. TE was enhanced by location in the northern region, credit access, household size, and farmer’s perception of climate change; but was lower for male farmers, household heads, commercial and experienced farmers as well as beneficiaries of fertilizer subsidy programmes. Among others, the Government of Ghana (GoG) should collaborate with NGOs to empower nucleus farmers to establish technology demonstration farms where they can train other farmers on improved technologies. The nucleus farmers could be assisted to use ICT and mass media mechanisms such as video, mobile phones, and radio since these methods can be used to reach out to many farmers at a lower cost. Also, farmers are advised to join or form groups to be able to learn new techniques of production from their colleague farmers, and also stand the chance of contracting loans and technologies which could increase their efficiency and output of rice.