Abstract:
This study investigates farmers' access to agricultural extension services in the Dangme West
District of Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to find out the sources of extension information,
the existence of differential access of farmers to agricultural extension services, and sociocultural
and other factors if any, which affect access to extension services. The results revealed
that the Agricultural Extension Agent (AEA) was the main source of information for the majority
of farmers (78%). Such farmers obtained additional information from other sources, such as
relatives, neighbours, spouses and classrooms. The other 22% of farmers obtained information
exclusively from other sources apart from the AEA. Only a few farmers mainly male (8.4%),
obtained information from the AEA only. Land ownership and control, perception of females as
mere helpers on the land, socio-cultural practices such as 'man first’ in the home, the domestic
division of labour, lack of communication between spouses, marital status, and the taboo
forbidding women to weed with hoes, among others, were factors that predisposed male
farmers to more frequent and direct contact with the AEA. Thus, males tend to have more
access to extension services.
