Gideon Danso-Abbeam

Adoption of improved maize variety among farm households in the northern region of Ghana

Abstract This study aims to identify the determinants of adoption of improved maize variety (IMV) among farmers in the northern region of Ghana and subsequently assess the factors influencing the intensity of IMV adoption. The study used two econometric techniques to address its objectives. Firstly, a multinomial logit was employed to identify factors affecting the adoption of IMV. Secondly, Tobit regression was used to analyze the determinants of the intensity of IMV adoption. A fractional regression model through the procedure proposed by Papke and Wooldridge was also used to test the robustness of the results obtained from the Tobit model. Results from the study revealed that variables such as the age of the household head, household size, level of experience, farm workshop attendance, the number of years in formal education, access to agricultural credit, membership of a farmer-based organization, availability of labor and extension contacts influence the adoption of IMV. Moreover, variables such as years in formal education, household size, distance to farm plots, attendance of demonstration fields, membership of a farmer-based organization, farm size, and previous income are significant determinants of the intensity of IMV adoption. The study has implications for achieving food security and poverty reduction through agricultural productivity growth.

Adoption of agrochemical management practices among smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

This study explores smallholder cocoa farmers’ adoption decisions of agrochemical inputs in the Ghanaian cocoa industry using farm-level data collected from a sample of 838 farm households in four cocoa producing regions. Multivariate probit and Tobit models were used to examine the determinants of agrochemical inputs adoption and the extent of adoption, respectively. The result of the study showed that agrochemical management practices are complementary and thus the adoption of an agrochemical input is conditional on the adoption of others. Different household characteristics, household assets, institutional variables, and the perception of soil fertility status and the incidence of pests and diseases influence the adoption of individual agrochemical inputs. Furthermore, the result of the study showed that intensity (or extent) of agrochemical adoption (measured as farmers’ expenditure on agrochemicals) is also influenced by some socioeconomic and institutional variables such as extension services and farmers’ visits to demonstration farms. The implication of this result provides empirical guidelines necessary for farm-level programmes designed to improve adoption and intensity of adoption of agrochemical management practices in the Ghanaian cocoa sector.

Awareness of Health Implications of Agrochemical Use: Effects on Maize Production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality, Ghana

This study assessed factors that affect awareness of health implications of agrochemical use and its effects on maize production in Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality of Ashanti Region, Ghana. One hundred and fifty-four (154) maize farmers were randomly sampled from the municipality. The study used awareness indicators to estimate an index representing farmers’ awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use. An ordered logit compliment with multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the drivers of farmers’ awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use. Also, a multivariate linear regression model was used to analyze the effects of health implications of agrochemical use on maize output. On average, the respondents have the moderate awareness level of health implications of agrochemical use (0.578). The awareness level was significantly explained by education, the number of children in school, ownership of TV/radio, experience in agrochemicals use, and farm size. The multivariate linear regression results showed that awareness levels of health implications of agrochemical use increase maize output. It is therefore recommended that interventions aimed at increasing farmers’ awareness levels of health implications of agrochemicals use should focus on educating farmers through interactive radio discussion and training sessions on the field and incorporate safety use of agrochemical in our educational curriculum.

Microfinance and Micro-Small-Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME's) in Kasoa Municipality, Ghana

ABSTRACT Limited access to credit is one of the key factors inhibiting the growth of micro-small-medium scale enterprises (MSME’s) in developing countries like Ghana. Hence, this study sought to identify determinants of access to credit and the factors influencing the volume of credit disbursed to MSME’s in Kasoa municipality of Ghana. The study used primary data collected from 140 randomly sampled MSME’s who applied for loan from Progressive Microfinance Company limited. The paired sample t-test was used to test whether there is significant difference between the amount demanded and the amount of credit received. The study used Probit model to analyze factors influencing the probability of access to credit while the Tobit model was used to analyze the determinants of amount of credit disbursed to the MSME’s. The paired-sample t-test revealed that the amount of credit received was significantly lower than the amount of credit demanded by the MSME’s. Empirical results from the Probit regression model indicated that educational level, provision of a personal guarantor, duration in business, permanent place of business and household size are the variables that significantly influence the probability of MSME’s accessing credit from the MFI’s. Moreover, empirical results from Tobit Original Research Article

Does fertiliser use improve household welfare? Evidence from Ghana’s cocoa industry

ABSTRACT This article analyses welfare impacts of fertiliser adoption using data collected from 838 cocoa farm households in the four key cocoa-producing regions in Ghana. Using propensity score matching (PSM), the study indicates that application of fertiliser leads to significant gains in farm yields, farm income, consumption expenditure, consumption expenditure per capita, and value of productive farm assets. The article concludes that cocoa-specific programmes such as Cocoa High Technology (Cocoa Hi-tech), initiated to intensify the application of improved farm technologies such as fertiliser, should be strengthened through effective and efficient management systems.

Households’ Preference for Local Rice in the Upper East Region, Ghana

Considering the increasing demand in the rice industry, the study was undertaken to determine the factors influencing household preference for locally produced rice in the Upper East Region, Ghana. Primary data was obtained from a sample of 180 households with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Probit model and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were used to analyze the data. Significant socioeconomic factors include income, age, sex, and marital status, whereas the quality factors such as the absence of foreign materials, packaging, and aroma were also significant determinants of preference for local rice. The top three traits consumers consider in their choice for local rice were good-looking grains, excellent packaging, and absence of foreign materials in the rice. There was an evidence of an increased preference for quality local rice. Hence, increased investment in the rice value chain, particularly the processing stage where quality standards remain the topmost priority, will help boost consumers’ confidence in the local rice market.