IMPROVED RICE VARIETY ADOPTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON FARMERS’ OUTPUT IN GHANA

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of improved rice varieties and its effects on output in Ghana. The method of analysis involved an estimation of treatment effect model comprising a probit equation and a production function. The empirical results show that the adoption of improved rice variety had a positive effect on farm output. Other inputs that had significant and positive impact on output were farm size, labour and fertilizer. The probability of adopting improved rice variety was high for the following: farmers who had formal education; farmers who had greater households; and farmers who had smaller farms. Contrary, however, farmers who had access to extension services had lower probability of adoption. The estimated Wald chi-square was 66.27 at 1% significant level. This indicates the appropriateness of the estimated model meaning that, the explanatory variables jointly determine the adoption of improved rice variety. It is however recommended that, farmers should be supported with more fertilizer subsidization. Farmers should also form farmer groups to support one another on the field especially during labour scarcity period. Also, the fundamental problems of illiteracy among farmers should be addressed by the government of Ghana.