Department of Agricultural Extension

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    Assessment of Agricultural Advisory Messages from Farmer-to Farmer in Making a Case for Scaling Up Production: A Qualitative Study
    (The Qualitative Report, 2020) Kwapong, N.A.; Ankrah, D.A.; Boateng-Gyambiby, D.; et.al
    Inadequate access to agricultural extension services often results in poor farm practices, affecting yields and subsequently the income and well-being of smallholder farmers. Given the high demand for agricultural information and the limited capacity of extension services, a farmer-to-farmer extension approach has been explored by many underserved farmers. In this study, we use a qualitative case study approach to explore how cassava farmers who had limited access to agricultural advisory services from public extension agents managed to up-scale their farming business. Our research question was: what lessons can be learned from the lived experience of these farmers to address the current challenges of cassava farming? The results of our study revealed diversity in advisory messages from farmer to farmer and agricultural extension agents. Farmers’ messages focused on encouraging farmers’ commitment and motivation towards farming business, availability of needed financial resources for the entire production season, willingness to reinvest profits, and access to farmland for future expansion. In contrast, the traditional messages from agricultural extension agents focused on encouraging group formation to address marketing challenges, diversification of farm operations, and good agricultural practices. These results show the need for pluralistic extension approaches to ensure farmers get access to necessary information. Keywords: Agricultural Extension, Case Study, Farmer to Farmer Extension, Social Learning
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    Impact Of Microfinance On Livelihood Diversification Of Women Agro- Processors In The Northern Region Of Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2020-10) Mohammed, F.
    The dominant agro-processing activities in the Northern Region include shea butter and rice processing. Despite the extension of microfinance services to women agro-processors (shea butter and rice processors) by Governmental and some non-governmental microfinance institutions and banks in the region, agro-processors have still not been able to improve upon their performance in terms of output and income. This poor performance does not only limit the growth of agro-processing enterprises but also, it limits poverty reduction efforts/ activities in the area. This study, therefore, assessed the impact of microfinance on livelihoods diversification of women agro-processors using 402 agro-processing enterprise owners. The study was undertaken in fifteen (15) communities drawn from the Tamale Metropolis and the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey design was used with the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The methodology used was the treatment and control approach which involved the use of techniques such as interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequencies, pie charts, histograms, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Linear regression model, Probit regression analysis, Analysis of variance, t-test and Chi-Square analysis supported by qualitative narratives were employed in analysing the study’s data. Results of the study revealed that socio-cultural and socio-economic characteristics of women agro-processors had a significant influence on women agro agro-processors’ participation in microfinance programmes. Additionally, education, household size, labour, credit, number of loans taken, and training were positively related to the output of shea butter and rice processors. The study further found out that, majority (69.4%) of women agro-processors enterprises had experienced some level of growth because of their participation in MF programmes. However, there was no significant difference in agro-processors participation in MF programmes and the number of people employed (labour) between the various levels of participation in MF programmes. Results of a t-test found a significant difference in average monthly household expenditure on food, clothing, health, education and social activities between participants and non-participants of MF programmes. Also, the majority (58%) of women agro-processors surveyed had diversified their livelihoods activities. Participants of MF programmes were more likely to engage in diversified livelihoods as compared to non-participants. Similarly, results of a Probit regression analysis found that with Pseudo R2 = 0.7228, the Probit regression was found to be significant with 72% of the variation in livelihood diversification being jointly explained by the variation in the selected independent variables. The study also revealed that collateral lending, savings demand, high-interest rate, small loan sizes, and unfavourable repayment terms are the challenges agro-processors encounter when accessing MF products particularly microcredit from MFIs. It is therefore recommended that; the central bank should reduce interest charged on loans given to MFIs to enable them to subsidise credit given to women agro-processing borrowers as advocated by the welfarist approach. This would enhance agro-processors’ microenterprise development and poverty reduction in the studied communities and Ghana as a whole.
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    Mechanisms and Pathways for Climate-Sensitive Transformational Change of Smallholder Agriculture in Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2016-07) Yakah, J. A.
    Efforts to transform smallholder agriculture and improve productivity have yielded some positive results. Yet, smallholder productivity in Africa remains low relative to America, Asia, and elsewhere, threatening food security and livelihoods. A major reason is the slow pace of transformation in the agricultural production, research and development processes, and the effects of climate change impacts. This thesis examined smallholder transformational change processes using the Transtheoretical (Stages of Behaviour Change) theory in a mixed-methods survey conducted in the Keta Anglo area, in the Coastal Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana with over 400 smallholder vegetable farmers. The study found that over 91% of smallholders were aware of the climate change phenomenon. However, awareness did not automatically translate into a high level of climate-sensitive practices. Status as head of household, membership in a Farmer Based Organisation and access to Extension services had significant relationships with smallholder perceptions of climate change impacts. Access to Extension services and land ownership were significant factors that affected smallholder stage of transformation. Smallholder perception variables measured as awareness, recall and beliefs were all significant predictors of smallholder stage of transformational change. The thesis concluded that the “one-size-fits-all” approach that is characteristic of most current Extension methods undermines efforts to transform smallholder agriculture in order to increase productivity. It is therefore recommended that Extension methods should aim at addressing farmer needs by disaggregating their perceptions and stage of transformational change specifically. Land tenure and ownership issues should also be addressed to enhance available mechanisms for transformation.
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    Linking Programme Planning Approaches To Livelihood Outcomes Of Farmers: A Case Study Of Agricultural Extension Services In Ghana
    (University of Ghana, 2014-12) Gyenfie, G.N
    This study aimed to find out the effect of linking programme planning approaches to livelihood outcomes of farmers and verify which approach is likely to reduce poverty among farmers. The research problem confronting us is that livelihood outcomes of rural farmers have not been improved over the years despite several planning approaches used by Agriculture Extension Services to deliver programmes to farmers. The population of study was Agricultural Extension Agents of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and farmers they provide services to. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique was used to randomly select eight districts out of a total of two hundred and sixteen (216) districts from the ten (10) regions of Ghana based on the four climatic and vegetation zones of the country. Two districts were randomly selected from each zone. A total of eighty-six (86) Agricultural Extension Agents and four hundred and two (402) farmers were interviewed. Districts were categorised into three as having (1) high, (2) medium and (3) low characteristics of the use of outcome logic model in programme delivery. Survey interview questionnaires were used to collect information from Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and their farmers. Data collected were coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis H Test and Mann-Whitney U Test were used to describe and analyse data. Farmers operating in districts with high characteristics of OLM approach of planning of programmes received high training, practised more extension packages, had better access to financial and physical assets and achieved high overall livelihood outcomes The study showed that programmes delivered by agricultural extension services which all stakeholders were involved in the initial planning process that identified the outcomes to be achieved and ensured that the needed resources were provided to carry out planned activities improved the performance and livelihood outcomes of farmers. It is recommended that the Outcome Logic Model approach should be the tool for planning pro-poor programmes by Agricultural Extension Services in Ghana since it has the potential of improving the performance and livelihood outcomes of farmers.