Department of Agricultural Extension

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    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.
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    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.
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    A Comparative Study of the Representational Capacity of Three Apex Farmer Organisations in Ghana
    (University Of Ghana, 2015-05) Amoako, B.O
    Most 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.
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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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    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.