Department of Agricultural Extension

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    Relevance of the Training and Visit Extension Messages in the Multiple Cropping System in Wa District of The Upper West Region, Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1998-12) Insah, A.M.; Atengdem, P.B.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    Sub-Saharan Africa depends on agriculture for economic growth and the well being of its people. The sub-region, and indeed the whole of Africa, has been losing a running battle to make agricultural production meet the ever-increasing population. To make food production cope with the population growth and to achieve economic development, many extension models have been tried. Currently the pre-dominant extension system in Africa is the Training and Visit extension system. In Ghana the system was introduced first in the then Upper Region (now Upper West and Upper East regions) in 1978 as part of the Upper Region Development Project (URADEP). Despite the use of the system in the region for more than 15 years, there is no significant success in food production. In the case of W a District per capita food production has actually declined. There is concern that the nature of extension messages that are delivered under the Training and Visit extension system may not be relevant to multiple cropping systems and in rainfed agriculture (Axinn 1991). The people of Wa District practice multiple cropping system in addition to the raising of livestock. They also depend on rainfed agriculture. The objective of the study was therefore, to find out whether messages communicated in the Training and Visit approach is relevant in the prevalent multiple cropping system in the Wa District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The population of the study comprised of all farmers living and farming within the Wa District. It also includes the extension agents operating in the area. Two samples were used for the study: - (i) 100 farmer respondents and (ii) 15 extension agent respondents. The farmer respondents consisted of 50 contact farmers and 50 noncontact farmers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Simple random sampling was used for the selection of contact farmers and purposive sampling for noncontact farmers. A structured interview schedule was used to collect information from the farmer respondents and a questionnaire was administered to the extension agents. Data collected was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using appropriate statistical methods. Chi-square tests was used to establish the statistical significance and relations between variables. The probability level used was 0.05. The sampled farming population was ageing one with a mean age of 45 years. Majority of the farmers had no formal education. Females and the youth were seldom involved in extension activities. The farmers were not generally involved in their needs identification but had good relations with the extension agents. Information provided was top-down. The information was timely and the farmers were satisfied about the way information was presented to them. They found the information to meet their needs. There was a significant difference in relevance of information to farmers practising the various cropping systems, as sole croppers find extension messages delivered far relevant than mixed croppers (x2=5.8, df=1 p<0.05). The availability of inputs, credit and rainfall were the basic hindrances to the utilisation of the information. Information flow from the contact farmers to the noncontact farmers occurs at lower level than expected in theory. The main source of information to the contact farmers was the extension agents. For the noncontact farmers their main source of information was other farmers and neighbours. To make the information relevant to all farmers, it is recommended that, farmers must necessarily be involved in their need identification, selection of contact farmers should be left to the farmers themselves and research should be done to find ways of increasing the relevance of extension messages to multiple crop farmers
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    Farmer’s participation in the transfer of improved maize production technology in Ghana: A case study of maize farmers in some areas of Fanteakwa and east Akim districts.
    (University of Ghana, 1994-09) Ackah-Nyamike, E.E.; Geker, E.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    The task of agricultural extension in Africa will for some time be mainly concerned with the transfer of agricultural technologies to farmers, This is because of the pressure on farmers to increase food production rapidly to match population increases and Agricultural Extension Services' belief that improved food production technologies do exist which, if adopted by the farmers, would significantly increase their food production from the present levels. Farmers' participation with agricultural extension agents was necessary to make them aware of improved maize production practices, and also to enhance their adoption of those practices. However, it did not really matter which extension participatory approach was used. This is because, although the two extension programmes studied (PPP and DAES) used different participatory approaches to deliver similar extension messages (improved maize production practices), the proportion of farmers in each group that used the various improved maize production practices was not significantly different.
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    Factors Influencing Women Farmers’ Participation in Extension Activities in Savelugu/Nanton and Tamale Districts Northern Region Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1997-12) Kaleem, A.; Geker, J.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    The important contribution of Women in the Northern Region of Ghana to Agricultural Production, processing and marketing cannot be overlooked. Available data and personal observation show that women do most of the work on the farm. Women in direct food production either help their husbands on the farm or are themselves owners of farms. Farm activities (such as planting, weeding, fertilizer application, threshing and storage) are done by women. In addition, they are responsible for the time -consuming tasks associated with preservation and processing of farm produce. This therefore, calls for the delivery of appropriate extension messages to women based on their needs as a result of the roles they perform but this is not the case. Women are often marginalised by extension agents in the Northern Region during extension delivery. The study was therefore conducted to find out factors influencing women farmers’ participation in extension activities (attendance to meetings, field days, excursions, home visits, farm visits, demonstrations). The survey methipd was employed to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The target population of the study included all women farmers and extension agents in Savelugu/Nanton and Tamale districts of the Northern Region of Ghana. A total sample size of ninety-six women and sixteen extension agents were selected using random sampling technique. Primary and secondary data were collected for the study. Instruments used in collecting primary data were a self-administered questionnaire for field extension agents, and interview schedule for farmers. Secondary data was collected from annual reports and annual programme of work of the two districts, Regional WIAD office, and Regional Agricultural Extension Office as well as policy documents obtained from the headquarters of the Department of Agricultural Extension Services. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) The findings of the survey revealed that, women contribute immensely towards agricultural production in the study area by engaging in the production of food crops, cash crops, and domestic animals. However, the study revealed that only 30 percent of women in Tamale District were contacted by extension agents. In Savulegu/Nanton District where the IFAD sponsored S.RD.P gave financial support to women for farming and income-generating activities, and where the extension agents were given gender-sensitive training, 50 percent of the women were contacted. Factors influencing their participation in extension activities are: - lack of access to productive resources (land, capital, labour) socio-cultural factors (such as difficulty in traveling outside their communities, domestic chores, reproductive/childcare responsibilities and off-farm income-generating activities.) women farmers do not meet most of the criteria used in selecting contact farmers extension agents’ perception that women do not have decision-making authority concerning farming within the household as a result, cannot implement recommendations. - obstacles encountered by extension agents when contacting women due to socio-cultural norms. - lack of institutional mechanisms in place to ensure that extension agents contact women farmers and the absence of policies that aim at integrating women into the agricultural development process. The conclusions drawn from the findings are that, women farmers contribute significantly to agricultural production by cultivating food and cash crops and vegetables but are rarely involved in extension activities. This is attributed to the fact that: ♦ Due to lack of access to productive resources (land, labour and capital), they often find it difficult to implement improved farming techniques recommended to them by extension agents. ♦ Socio-cultural factors (e.g domestic chores, marital and childcare responsibilities) prevent them from participating in extension activities. ♦ Women do not meet most of the criteria used in selecting contact farmers (e.g. land ownership, ability to travel outside the community for training courses). ♦ Extension agents face obstacles when contacting women during their extension duties. This often discourage them from involving women in their extension activities. ♦ .There are no institutional procedures put in place to ensure that women farmers are reached by extension. Recommendations are made for policy makers and extension administrators to come out with policies and strategies for integrating women farmers’ needs and concerns into the agricultural development process. These include: institution of credit facilities for women farmers to purchase farming inputs, implements and processing machines. - the adoption of group approach to contacting women farmers - organization of separate functions for men and women so as to enable women feel free to talk or contribute to discussions selection of extension methods that are convenient for women farmers to attend criteria for the selection of contact farmers should be reviewed in order to enable women farmers qualify as contact farmers gender sensitizing training should be organized for extension agents(both male and female) to equip them with the tools /skills necessaty to work with women farmers targets should be set for the number of men and women farmers to be involved in each extension activity conducted by extension agents. Formats for reporting attendance by sex during extension activities should be designed for extension agents. Policies formulated by the Department of Agricultural Extension Services(D.A.E.S) should emphasize the need to work with women farmers The demonstration home concept should be extended to all the districts in the Northern Region since it has proven very effective as a strategy in reaching women farmers in the IFAD/SRDP operational areas and so is the women volunteer approach
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    The Silviculture, Growth and Yield Of Neem (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss.) Plantations in Northern Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1996-12) Nanang, D.M; Day, R.J; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    Nanang, D. M. 1996. The silviculture, growth and yield of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) plantations in Northern Ghana. 94 pp. MscF Thesis, Faculty of Forestry, Lakehead University. Advisor: Prof. R. J. Day. Key Words: Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Neem, Northern Ghana, Silviculture, Tamale Forest District, Volume Tables, Yield Table. The silviculture and growth and yield of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) grown in individual and community plantations in the Tamale Forest District of Northern Ghana was investigated in 1995. Owing to rising populations and an increasing demand for agricultural land, shortages of wood for poles, rafters and fuel are increasing. Plantations of neem and other exotic species were rapidly expanded from 1989 to minimize the effect of the forthcoming shortage and to guarantee wood products for village communities. The current silviculture for neem in Northern Ghana is adequate for present levels of plantation establishment but will have to improve as the area planted expands. The principal changes will be seed collection from superior phenotypes, improvement in nursery and outplanting practice, closer initial spacing, and thinning. The measurement of 120 temporary sample plots in 30 plantations varying in age from one to nine years in the Tamale Forest District provided the data for the construction of local and standard volume table equations and the development of an empirical yield table. The Yield Table showed that the mean annual increment of Site Class I, II and III neem plantations was 12.9, 8.1 and 4.3 m3/ha on biologically optimum rotations of 5, 7 and 11 years respectively. The three-parameter Weibull probability density function, the Normal and the Log-normal distributions were used to fit the diameter distributions of the neem plantations. Comparisons of the observed and predicted diameter frequencies indicate that the Log-normal distribution gave the best description of the diameter distributions, though the Weibull function was also found to be suitable.
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    The Effect of Training on Extension Workers’ Performance: A Case Study of Front Line Staff in the Suhijm Kraboacoaltar and West Akim Districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1998-06) Gyenfie, J.N.; Sakyi-Dawson, O.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    Despite concerted effort at improving the extension delivery in Ghana, the performance of the Front Line Staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Extension Services has been lower than expected. It is expected that among others, appropriate training will enhance their performance. However it is not clear what the nature and content of such training should be. The study therefore was to find out whether the content of training provided to the extension workers affected their performance and if so which content is likely to enhance performance. The study was guided by the assumption that farmers have needs, some of which are their training needs. That for the extension workers to be able to provide appropriate training to farmers, they should be trained in those needs. This is likely to enhance extension worker performance. A survey was conducted in the Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar and West Akim districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana using a checklist and survey questionnaire to collect information from the FLS and their farmers. Data collected included the content of training FLS have received, needs of farmers and the nature and content of messages farmers have received from their FLS, and their adoption behaviour. It was found that there was no difference between the farmers of FLS who have received wide and those with narrow knowledge with regard to adoption. However , farmers tended to adopt technologies in which the Front Line Staff received adequate training Personal characteristics such as educational background, total farmland available, and purpose of farming are important factors affecting adoption patterns. The findings indicate that the span of knowledge received by the FLS during training is not an important determinant of adoption behaviour of fanners, rather it is important that Front Line Staff are provided wit in-depth training in activities that farmers are engaged in. It is concluded that training in a wide range of subjects without going into details would not enhance adoption. This is critical, especially in the Training and Visit (T&V) management system where there is regular training. Such training should aim not only to increase span but in addition the content should be detailed. Personal characteristics such as educational background, access to land and purpose of farming are likely to be important basis of demarcating recommendation domains for extension messages.
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    Diffusion and Adoption of the Chorkor Smoker In Tema U Compound
    (University of Ghana, 1992-10) Buadi, D. K.; Ladele, A. A.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    The main objective of the research is to study the processes in the introduction of the Chorkor smoker and to determine the factors which the fishsmokers consider in the adoption of the Chorkor smoker. Qualitative research methodology was used for the study. The main data gathering device was individual interview using an interview guide. Data were collected from the individual fishmokers and the extension agents. The data were coded and analyzed. The results are: (1) the influence of the larger community is an important factor influencing the adoption of the Chorkor smoker. They are deterrents to adoption. (2) The source from which fishsmokers seek information about innovations and the extent to which they seek information are important factors which influenced the innovativeness of the extension-aided adopters (3) information provided by change agents and/or opinion leaders are either lost or given! different rheanings/interpretations by clientele (4) the meetings and demonstrations helped the fishsmokers to develop favourable attitude towards the Chorkor smoker (5) groups offer an effective medium for the introduction and acceptance of innovations (6) the size of a fishsmoker's enterprise is ar important factor in the adoption of the Chorkor smoker (7) the age and education of respondents are not important factors influencing innovativeness of those who obtained extension assistance,(8) age is not an important factor influencing the adoption of the Chorkor smoker by the three groups namely adopters who had extension contact, adopters who did not benefit from extension contact and non-adopters (9) the two attributes, savings on fuelwood and fast rate of fish smoking, are the most important attributes which favoured the adoption of the Chorkor smoker. The following recomendations were also provide to assist change agents (1) extension agents must endeavour to know the fish smoker in her social context (2) education should be carried out to allay the fears of fishsmokers and (3) extension should target large scale fishsmokers when introducing the Chorkor smoker into a new community
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    The Influence of Gender Relations on Extension Delivery in Dangme West District of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1999-04) Akotia, E.R; Fiadjoe, F.Y.M.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    Extension delivery involves a relationship between an extension agent and a farmer who participates in extension activities. The general perception of the extension services in Ghana is that it is skewed positively towards men as against women farmers. This study was therefore directed towards looking at the nature of gender relations between extension agents and farmers to find out how it affects extension delivery. The study was conceptualized with ‘gender1 as a social construct that defines the roles and responsibilities of men and women in society and ‘extension delivery’ as a social interaction between extension agents and farmers. The social interaction is characterised by interpersonal relationship, conceptualised as a A'' system composed of internal and external. The internal components are characterized by interaction, sentiments and activities operating between the agent and farmer; (Homans, 1951). These are elaborated the external components made up of the extension organisation, agents and the farmers social system. The elements of interaction measured in the study were acquaintance, frequency and duration of interaction. Sentiments in this study were measured by its intensity, that is, the feeling of liking, sentience, trust, reciprocation and group size. Activities were measured by involvement and relevance. Participation was conceptualised as taking part or Cupertino in extension activities. The study was conducted in the Dangme West District, an agricultural District in the Greater Accra Region with a purposive sample of 62 men and 44 women from ten villages that had experienced the services of both male and female agents. All the extension agents in the district, 14 males and 3 females were administered with questionnaires, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Services was also interviewed. The findings of the study confirmed that the relationship and participation in extension activities involving both male and female agents and farmers are skewed positively towards men as against women farmers. This skewed situation has come about as a result of the relatively lower status of women that makes men and not the women the recipients of agents visiting the household. This is compounded by constraints such as work overload and time that make it difficult for most women to avail themselves for extension activities. The agents lack of gender sensitivity and knowledge about gender and its effects on extension delivery captured by the fact that, the DAES has no strategies in place that is known to the agents by which they could reach women farmers, left the field staff operating as they wished. It was also found that farmers were indifferent to the gender of the agents, all they wanted was help from a government official. While both men and women farmers feel comfortable with female agents and vice versa, male agents felt more comfortable with men than women farmers. The main reason is the fear of suspicion of intimate relations between them by society. The male agent conducted more gender-neutral activities for both men and women farmers, while the female agents conducted gender neutral and women biased activities with women farmers, which are relevant to them. The study recommends that extension delivery to women farmers could be improved if the organisation translated its policy to reach women farmers into gender sensitive strategies. Also information for monitoring and evaluation of extension activities should be by segregated by gender. This would motivate front-line agents to make conscious efforts at reaching women farmers.
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    Constraints to the Adoption of the Yam Minisett Technology in the Northern Region, Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 1999-03) Ekekpi, G. K.; Atengdam, P. B.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    The development and transfer of the yam minisett technology has the potential to be the solution to the problem of unavailability and high cost of planting material (seed yam) in the yam production industry. However, the adoption of this technology by farmers in the Northern Region has been reported as quite low. This study was therefore conducted to determine the constraints to the adoption of this potentially useful technology. This survey research was undertaken in four purposively sampled districts of the Northern Region, namely, East Gonja, Gushiegu-Karaga, West Gonja and Yendi Districts. By means of the purposive sampling technique, 120 farmers, the recipients of the technology, and 40 agricultural extension agents (AEAs), the technology transfer agents, constituted the sample for the study. The study employed interview schedule and questionnaire to farmers and extension agents respectively to obtain responses to specific variables to meet the research objectives. Focused group interviews and discussions were also held with representatives of all stakeholders (farmers, subject matter specialists, researchers, extension agents and agricultural administrators) in the agricultural development sector. Relevant departmental documents were also consulted to validate information gathered. From the data, an in-depth analysis of the technology itself and the extension delivery of the technology to farmers was made. Using the farmers' criteria of quality seed yam, the technology was assessed and found to be no better alternative to the traditional seed yam production methods. The quality of seed yam produced through the technology did not meet the farmers' criteria. The extension delivery process was observed to be such that the farmer was just but a recipient of the technology. There was poor farmer-involvement in the problem identification and diagnosis with respect to seed yam production. In this regards, the extension organisation in promoting a “production-technology” oriented approach, through its agricultural extension agents, "imposed" on farmers a pre-formulated or prescribed solution to the problem of inadequacy of planting material in the yam production sector - a problem which farmers in Northern Region did not recognise as a need. From the analysis of the technology itself and its delivery process, a wide range of factors were noted to have contributed to its low adoption rate in the Northern Region. These constraints were catalogued into five broad categories, including Social factors, Economic constraints, Environmental issues, Institutional factors and Technological constraints. It is therefore the recommendation of this research that the paradigm of “farmerparticipatory”, “problem-solving” and “demand-driven” technology development and transfer should be applied to the letter as this would be most appropriate to solving farmers' identified problems. The “production-oriented” approach may not be appropriate in addressing farmers' specific difficulties. The active participation of the target group in the technology development and transfer processes embodied in participatory technology development is crucial in enhancing the adoption of agricultural technologies, in addition, a conducive policy environment, which ensures the availability of production-enhancing inputs at affordable prices together with incentives for production, are nonetheless essential.
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    Working with Farmers' Groups, An Extension Experience
    (University of Ghana, 1997-06) Yeboah, A.; Fiadjoe, F.Y.M.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    The study aimed at researching into the prevailing farmers' groups and examine the capability of the nature of farmers' groups and extension interactions with them to influence the expected improvements in their farming activities. The study was carried out in the West Akim district of the eastern region of Ghana. All the twelve FLS in the field as well as the two extension supervisors in the district were interviewed. Fourteen extension farmers' groups and four non-extension farmers' groups were interviewed from five sub-districts. From each farmers' group interviewed five of its members were randomly selected and interviewed. A total of 84 individual farmers were consequently covered in the study. Four other extension supervisors from the DAES as well as three from other extension organisations involved in the study were also interviewed. They included officers in charge of field operations in the district, regional and national headquarters. Data collection started from 14th November 1995 and ended on 18th January 1996. The result of the study revealed that in the West Akim district the DAES deals with both autonomous and sponsored groups. The autonomous groups were found to be more sustainable than the sponsored groups.'The sustainability of the autonomous groups was attributed to their nature, mode of format ;>n and the existing internal dynamics. In sustainable groups the extension agent has the opportunity to plan for series of lessons which together can bring about improvements in the farming activities of group members.„ The nature of a farmers' group thus affects its sustainability and the opportunity for extension agent and farmers to teach and acquire knowledge respectively. The effectiveness of extension delivery is also influenced by the nature of farmers' groups. The extension agents of the DAES'were not able to arrange and meet farmers' groups according to the visit schedules as envisaged under the T-&V system being practised by the DAES. The expected two weeks interval between consercutive meetings of extension agents and farmers' groups was not fully achieved. Thus regular teaching and learning opportunities were not created by the extension agents. i The monthly: training sessions which could have reinforced the extension delivery skills of the extension agents were directed towards technical topics. Extension agents were not adequately equipped to contribute much to the social life of farmers' groups. Extension interaction with extension and non-extension farmers' groups in the West Akim district enhanced the production levels of farmers, but not much was achieved in the development and sustainability of the farmers' group life. , N To work effectively and efficiently with farmers' groups, extension organisations among others need to renew and meet the needs of their clients, and also train their agents to be adept in working with farmers' groups and encouraging farmers to form their groups.
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    The Effect of Training on Extension Workers’ Performance; A Case Study Of Front Line Staff In The Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar _1998
    (University of Ghana, 1998-06) Gyenfte, J.N.; Sakyi-Dawson,O.; University of Ghana, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension
    Despite concerted effort at improving the extension delivery in Ghana, the performance of the Front Line Staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Extension Services has been lower than expected. It is expected that among others, appropriate training will enhance their performance. However it is not clear what the nature and content of such training should be. The study therefore was to find out whether the content of training provided to the extension workers affected their performance and if so which content is likely to enhance performance. The study was guided by the assumption that farmers have needs, some of which are their training needs. That for the extension workers to be able to provide appropriate training to farmers, they should be trained in those needs. This is likely to enhance extension worker performance. A survey was conducted in the Suhum Kraboa-Coaltar and West Akim districts of the Eastern Region of Ghana using a checklist and survey questionnaire to collect information from the FLS and their farmers. Data collected included the content of training FLS have received, needs of farmers and the nature and content of messages farmers have received from their FLS, and their adoption behaviour. It was found that there was no difference between the farmers of FLS who have received wide and those with narrow knowledge with regard to adoption. However , farmers tended to adopt technologies in which the Front Line Staff received adequate training Personal characteristics such as educational background, total farmland available, and purpose of farming are important factors affecting adoption patterns. The findings indicate that the span of knowledge received by the FLS during training is not an important determinant of adoption behaviour of fanners, rather it is important that Front Line Staff are provided wit in-depth training in activities that farmers are engaged in. It is concluded that training in a wide range of subjects without going into details would not enhance adoption. This is critical, especially in the Training and Visit (T&V) management system where there is regular training. Such training should aim not only to increase span but in addition the content should be detailed. Personal characteristics such as educational background, access to land and purpose of farming are likely to be important basis of demarcating recommendation domains for extension messages.