Department of Agricultural Extension
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Item The Influence Of Capacity Building Projects On Farmer Innovative Performance And Poverty Reduction: The Case Of USAID Feed The Future Projects In Northern Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2021-12) Odonkor, E.N.Capacity building constitutes an integral part of development assistance that seeks to build the understanding, skills, and knowledge base of individuals and institutions in developing countries in a bid to improve the productivity of agriculture. Out of about 41.2% of the economically active people who are engaged in agriculture in Ghana, 72% are in northern Ghana. The study set out to investigate how farmer participation in the USAID Feed the Future Initiative capacity- building activities influenced their innovative performance and how that affected their yields in northern Ghana. The study also examined the relationship between the yields of the selected crops and the incomes, food security, and well-being of the farmers in that part of the country. The study was conducted in eight districts in all the five northern regions in Ghana. The study adopted a mixed-method approach and therefore used both qualitative and quantitative data. Using a survey and focus group discussions, data was collected from 314 farmers who participated in the selected capacity-building projects of the USAID FTF initiative in Ghana. The data was analysed with descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon sign ranked test, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, Chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis test. The study revealed that farmer participation in the USAID FTF capacity-building projects influenced their innovative performance in terms of the utilization and sharing of the knowledge and skills acquired from the project activities. The majority of the farmers acquired high knowledge, and a majority are also practicing what they have learnt. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that utilization of knowledge and information sharing impacted innovative performance as compared to knowledge acquisition alone. However not many of the farmers are sharing information about the things they have learned. This affected their innovative performance. As a result, farmer innovative performance did not influence the yield of the selected crops as was expected. However, the yields of the crops improved after farmers participated in the project activities. It was also revealed that there is a significant relationship between farmers’ crop productivity and their incomes which was expected to impact their food security and well-being. Although there was a significant relationship between maize productivity and food security, there was no significant relationship between rice and soybean productivity and food security. There was statistically significant relationship between rice and soybean productivity and farmers’ well-being but no statistically significant relationship between maize productivity and well-being. Generally, there is perceived improvement in income, food security and well-being of the farmers after participating in the project activities. This implies that the capacity building projects have impacted poverty positively and have enhanced poverty mitigation in northern Ghana. The study recommends that government policies and programmes meant to improve farmer innovativeness should target building the capacity of farmers through field demonstrations. Government policies should also support innovative farmers to lead farmer to farmer extension. It is also recommended that effort must be put into the continuous improvement of maize productivity to boost farmers’ incomes and enhance their well-being in northern Ghana.Item Enterprise Factors and Enterprise Growth of the Cassava Industry in Akuapem-North Municipality of the Eastern Region, Ghana(University of Ghana, 2020-07) Mbawini, A.Several factors influence the establishment, effective management and success of enterprises. These factors can be categorised under pre- and post- establishment factors and although they affect the successful establishment and growth of enterprises, much attention have not been paid to them. The failure of some businesses could be linked with non-adherence to and inclusion of the factors in the establishment process as well as management practices. Pre-establishment factors include enterprise characteristics, knowledge of fund availability, knowledge of business information, and entrepreneur’s expertise whiles Post-establishment factors entail business survival objectives, sociocultural environment, business environment, and human resource development. This study sought to determine how enterprise factors contribute to the growth of enterprise and how this growth contributes to the attainment of improved livelihood outcomes in the cassava industry. A mixed method study design was used in this study. A total of 200 entrepreneurs from the cassava industry were interviewed. The study revealed that consumer need showed significant association (𝜌= 0.01, 0.01 and 0.01) with employment, sales and technology growth factors respectively. The type of agro enterprise (ρ= 0.01) and access to business information (ρ= 0.03) were significantly related to technology growth. Knowledge of fund availability (ρ= 0.01) was also significantly related to employment growth. Post establishment business environment (ρ= 0.01) was significantly related to sales growth. The findings of the study revealed a significant relationship between sales growth (ρ= 0.04) variables and improved health but was not significant with employment growth (ρ= 0.25) and technology growth (ρ= 0.05). The results also showed significant relationship between sales (ρ= 0.03), technology (ρ= 0.02) and employment (ρ= 0.02) growth factors. From the findings of this study, it is recommended that there should be technology training, and education on available funding sources.Item Content Analysis of Agricultural Information Coverage By the Ghanaian National Newspaper, Daily- Graphic From January 2014 - December 2015.(University of Ghana, 2017-07) Vinyo, Y.F.Following reports on poor accessibility of agricultural information and its consequential declining in agricultural growth in the country, this study sought to investigate the role played by the stateowned newspaper (Daily Graphic) to improving access to agricultural information in the country. Content analysis was used as the research design of this study. Secondary data was collected from the Daily Graphic newspaper for the analysis of this study between the period of January 2014 and December 2015. A sample size of 192 editions out of a total population of 576 editions of the newspaper was analysed during the period. The study revealed that only 3% of the total news published by the newspaper during the period was agricultural news. Agricultural news published in the newspaper during the period under study was in six categories namely; hard news, editorial, opinion, advertisement, letter to editor and feature. The highest frequency of agricultural news covered were found in the categories of Advertisements and Hard news, thus 61% and 31% respectively followed by 2% in the editorial category, 4% in the Opinion category and 1% in both the Feature and Letter to the Editor categories each. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the agricultural news published were reported at the less read pages of the newspaper, whiles agricultural news items reported at the front pages, back pages and the centre spread pages of the newspaper were also 1%, 3% and 1 % respectively. The study recommended amongst other things that managers of the state newspaper must engage line reporters or journalists purposely for reporting agricultural sensitive news in the country in order to improve upon its agricultural information coverage.Item The Influence Of Agricultural Information Sources On The Practices And Livelihood Outcomes Of Cassava Farmers In Upper West Akim District(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Antwi, G.Cassava farmers in the district have a variety of information needs; however, these information requirements are unmet by the public extension agents who are mandated to deliver agricultural information to the farmers. The main objective of the study was therefore to determine the sources of agricultural information available and its influence on the farm practices and livelihood outcomes of the cassava farmers in the district. The survey research methodology was employed, and used multi-stage sampling to select 200 farmers from the communities for the study. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The data collected was stored and analyzed using SPSS Version 21 Software. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used in analyzing the data. Chi-square test of independence was the main inferential statistical tool employed in the analysis of the data because most of the variables of interest were measured on nominal and ordinal scale. The study showed that the sources of agricultural information mainly used by the cassava farmers were fellow farmers (82%), radio (66%), agricultural extension agents (46%), input dealers (38%) and with the least source used being newspapers/agricultural bulletins (6.5%). The study also found that age, farming experience and land tenure arrangement of the farmers significantly influenced sources from which agricultural information were obtained. It was also noted that, although, majority of the farmers sourced for agronomic, market and credit information, it was only credit information which was found to have a significant influence on the farm practices undertaken by the farmers. A statistically significant relationship was observed between farmer’s agricultural practice and their level of yield and income but not well-being and food security. It was recommended that extension officers in the district should extend credit information to the farmers and assist them to access credit. This may ensure that agricultural information obtained by the cassava farmers can be put into practice in other to improve their livelihood outcomes.Item A Comparative Study of the Representational Capacity of Three Apex Farmer Organisations in Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2015-05) Amoako, B.OMost Apex Farmer Organisations continually state as part of their mission and objectives that they exist to “represent farmers’ interests and give farmers a voice”; however, most farmers’ have not benefitted much from these Apex Farmer Organisations. The study was structured to assess the representational capacity of three Apex Farmer Organisations in Ghana: Apex Farmer Organisation of Ghana (ApFOG), Ghana Cocoa Coffee Sheanut Farmers’ Association (GCCSFA) and Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG); in representing the interests of their primary farmer groups and meeting the expectations of the farmers’. This study used the case study/ survey research methodology with a sample size of 205 farmers and leaders of the Apex organisations within the Central, Eastern and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. Primary data was collected by the use of interviews and questionnaires. Data was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Using the three different dimensions of capacity representation namely: formal, descriptive and participatory representation; the study found that all three organisations have some form of formal representation but are low in participatory representation. However, ApFOG and GCCSFA had a high descriptive representation score than PFAG. Externally, they are all affected by the economy and policy situation of the country. In satisfying the needs of the farmers with regards to certain services, using the Kruskal-Wallis test, GCCSFA ranked highest, followed by ApFOG and then PFAG. It can be recommended that, these three Apex Farmers’ Organisations need to restructure and make their farmers aware of what they do and interact more with their farmers so that the farmers do not have expectations that the Apex organisations cannot meet.Item The Contribution of Socio-Economic Factors to Knowledge, Attitude and Skills Acquired Through Training in Pesticide Utilization in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly(University of Ghana, 2015-10) Abdulai, Z.; Boateng, S.D.; Anaglo, J.N.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural ExtensionThe use of recommended agricultural practices such as the safe adoption of pesticides is influenced by several factors as identified in the evaluative frame of reference. These factors have often led to the existing gap between farmers‘ knowledge and pesticide use. The purpose of the study was to examine the contribution of socio-economic factors to the application of skills acquired through training on the safe use of pesticides in vegetable production in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 100 MoFA training beneficiary farmers from a population of 135. The study used interview schedule as instrument to gather data from the respondents. SPSS and descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, and percentages were used to analyse the quantitative data, while content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The study found that the even though the farmers acquired good knowledge in pesticide use, they are using a number of practices that are injurious to themselves, consumers and the environment after benefiting from a training programme from MoFA. Thus, few farmers were using protective gears and most farmers perceived applying more pesticides guarantees higher farm yields. Nevertheless, the training programme contributed to change some of the poor attitudes and practices associated with the use of pesticides. Educational level of farmers was the main socio-economic variable that explained differences in the attitudes of farmers. The study recommends that MoFA should organise more training programmes for the farmers to help continue change some of the negative attitudes towards the use of pesticides, and MoFA should provide extension services to the farmers to monitor their rate of adoption of the improved practices in the use of pesticides.Item Effects of Migration on the Livelihood of Rural Households in the Kpando District of the Volta Region(University of Ghana, 2016-07) Kessie, G.K.; Atengdem, P.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences School of Agriculture Department of Agricultural ExtensionThe main objective of this study is to assess the causes of labour migration, low food crop production and remittance linkages on the livelihood of rural households in the Kpando District. The researcher used survey design to elicit information from 202 heads of non-migrants’ households within the study area. The households used for the study were selected by cluster sampling and information was elicited from them through personal interview and a structured questionnaire. Data for this study were edited, coded and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) and inferential statistics. The New Economics of Labour Migration, the “Push- Pull” Model and Todaro Model of Migration were used. The sustainable livelihood framework was used to analyse the effects. The results revealed that, majority of rural households in Kpando district were involved in migration, and migration is an important part of their income. Findings showed that people may decide to migrate when their rural economy is disrupted. Such decisions could be as a result of natural catastrophe such as: flood, drought, insects and pests’ infestation, disease problems, infertile soil, lack of arable land for cultivation, communal clashes, family dispute and other adversities. The study found out that migration and remittance showed statistical significant difference compared to agricultural income, hence the decision to migrate. The results obtained from the study on the impact of migration on food crop production, come to validate all three theories. Findings revealed that farmers do not have access to financial support, the few farmers who had financial support from various sources had said it was inadequate for optimum production. The migration of people from food crop production areas affects food crop production negatively - high cost of human labour, increasing the cost of food production in the study area.Item Relevance of Agricultural Education in the Second Cycle Level of Education in the Greater Accra Region(University of Ghana, 2015-07) Sekor, H.K.; Anaglo, J.N.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences School of Agriculture Department of Agricultural ExtensionThough it is government policy to modernize the agricultural sector and make it a catalyst for rural transformation making Ghana an agro-industrialized country, very few students pursue agricultural programme as compared to other programmes at the SHS level. These students who pursues the agricultural programme do not match up to the standard in terms of skill acquisition to meet the job market hence tend to be ‘job seekers’ and end up in other sectors. The main objective of the study was to find out factors that influence the choice of agricultural program at SHS level and the extent to which teaching and learning material or resources influence agricultural skill development. The study employed the survey design, using quantitative analysis. A sample size of 340 was used comprising of 310 students, 15 guidance and counselling coordinator as well as 15 heads of agricultural science department. Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument used. The analysis included tabulation and computation of chi-square test, frequencies and percentages. The study revealed that School Guidance and Counselling (SGC) services provided significantly influenced students’ choice of agricultural program at the SHS level. The study also identified other factors which significantly influenced students’ choice of agricultural program at this level, which include job market, people in the agro-business, BECE result and using the program as a stepping stone. The study further revealed the significance of teaching and learning material or resources in the development of agricultural skills by students. Based on this findings, it has been recommended that, guidance and counselling should be made effective at the JHS level so as to get pupil informed about what pertain at the SHS level especially career choice, more SHS should be encouraged to add agricultural program to their already run program and adequate teaching materials should be provided to enable students develop the requisite skills to meet the job market or even become self-employed.Item The Contribution of Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Institutional Support Towards Shea Conservation Management in the Upper East Region(University of Ghana, 2015-10) Aboyella, A.C.; Boateng, S.D.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Agricultural ExtensionThe continuous extraction of shea resources from the natural plantation over the years without any significant conservation management measures has compounded the deforestation of the natural shea vegetation, leading to the fast decline in shea tree population in the northern savannah grasslands. The decline in shea tree densities is quite alarming in the Upper East Region. The main objective of this study was to examine the contribution of farmers‟ knowledge, attitude, and institutional support towards shea conservation management practices in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study used a mixed method approach. The qualitative method involved key informant interviews with institutions and organizations to collect qualitative data. The quantitative method involved administering a survey questionnaire to a randomly sampled size of 350 farmers. The qualitative data was content-analyzed for patterns of relationships, while Chi-square and Likert scale were run for quantitative data. The results indicate that there was no statistically significant difference χ2 (1, N=350) = 0.206, p = 0.056 between male (95%) and female (93%) farmers knowledge in shea protection. The findings further indicate there was statistically significant difference χ2 (1, N=350) = 17.725, p = 0.049 between male (90%) and female (71%) farmers‟ knowledge in the importance of weeding around shea trees, pests and disease control and pruning. Also, farmers generally showed a positive attitude towards shea conservation management practices. However, considering the rather low practice in shea tree conservation management by farmers, it is recommended for increased community awareness sensitization by state and private institutions.Item The Effect of Access to and Use of Agricultural Information on the Livelihood of Cocoa Farmers(University of Ghana, 2014-07) Aikins, I.; Atengdem, P.B.; Boateng, S.D.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences School of Agriculture Department of Agricultural ExtensionCocoa remains Ghana’s most important crop, providing a means of livelihood to about two million people. As a result of the liberalization of the sector, there have been several providers of services to farmers particularly agricultural information. In agriculture, the role of information in enhancing the agricultural development cannot be over emphasized. Information is essential for increasing agricultural production and improving marketing & distribution strategies. Concerns still persist as to the differences in the access to and use of agricultural information leading to differences in livelihood outcomes of farmers. The study’s main objective was to assess the effect of access to and use of agricultural information on the livelihood of cocoa farmers. The study used survey research methodology with a sample size of 260 cocoa farmers within the Sefwi Bekwai Cocoa District of Ghana. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that the cocoa farmers get information on cocoa farming mainly through radio (95.4%), Television (75.0%), Family/Friends (70.8%) and COCOBOD/MoFA (49.2%). The use of information from family/friends was the highest with a mean of (3.85) followed by information from agro - input dealers (3.64), COCOBOD/MoFA (3.47) and Farmer groups (3.33). The study also found that, there was a moderate level of access to agricultural information by the farmers as indicated by 62.3% of the respondents. Farmers’ level of use of accessed agricultural information was low, indicated by 48.1% of the respondents. The farmers’ characteristics and institutional factors significantly influenced access to agricultural information (R2 = 0.498, F (19, 240) = 12.515, p = 0.000), additionally it significantly influenced the use of agricultural information (R2 = 0.514, F (19, 240) = 13.365, p = 0.000). The significant predictor variables of farmers’ access to agricultural information were household size, labour availability, group membership, farmers’ information seeking behaviour and farmers’ attitude towards improved farming practices. The use of agricultural information was significantly influenced by household size, off – farm work, labour availability, group membership and farmers’ information seeking behaviour. There was a significant relationship between level of access to information and level of use of information (R2 = 0.897, F (5,254) = 440.16,of language used and the relevance of the information disseminated. A statistically significant relationship existed between level of farmers’ use of agricultural average annual income, extent of satisfaction of basic needs and basic household assets possession at 5%. There was a statistically significant relationship between the level of access to agricultural information and its use. The study revealed that sources of information that have direct contact with the farmers were highly used. It is therefore recommended that face to face interaction with the farmers should be frequent, timely training of input dealers to equip them with more technical knowhow and cocoa farmers should be encouraged to subscribe to the farmer groups that abound in their localities.