Farmers’ Preference for Modes of Agricultural Technology Transfer and Its Implication for Inorganic Fertilizer Use and Maize Yield in Guinea Savannah and Transitional Zones of Ghana

Abstract

Technology development and use are crucial for improving crop yields in Ghana. However, yield increases have been sluggish despite the several technologies introduced to farmers over the years. Considering that different transfer modes were adopted, the impacts could vary. Therefore, this study examined maize farmers’ preferences for modes of agricultural technology transfer and the impact of the different modes of transfer on inorganic fertilizer use and maize yield in the Guinea Savannah and Transitional agroecological zones of Ghana. The study was conducted using cross-sectional primary data on a sample of 690 maize farmers. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the modes of agricultural technology transfer identified in the study area and the most preferred mode of transfer by the maize farmers. Farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of the modes of agricultural technology transfer were identified using the Likert scale, and their mean scores were calculated to determine the most effective mode of transfer. The multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model was used to examine the impact of the modes of agricultural technology transfer on the quantity of inorganic fertilizer used. Finally, the multinomial endogenous treatment effect (METE) model was used to examine the effect of the modes of agricultural technology transfer on the maize yield of farmers. The study revealed that individual farm visits, technology demonstration fields, household extension, group extension, farmer-to-farmer mode of transfer, and radio programmes were the main modes of agricultural technology transfer in the study area. Individual farm visits was the most preferred and perceived as the most effective mode of transfer by maize farmers in the study area. The farmers perceived the transfer of technology through newspapers as the least effective mode of transfer. From the econometric analysis, the transfer of agricultural technologies through extension only, a combination of extension and mass media, and the combination of all identified modes of transfer have significantly led to an increased inorganic fertilizer application of 165.5%, 114.5%, and 125.2%, respectively. The study also revealed that the transfer of information on agricultural technologies through extension agents only, farmer-to-farmer only, a combination of extension and farmer-to-farmer, and the combination of extension and mass media significantly increased maize yield by 15.1%, 18.8%, 34.6%, and 34.0%, respectively. Based on the findings, it is recommended that extension agents provide extension services to farmers on their fields. To achieve this, more human, financial, and logistical support is required from MoFA and NGOs. Also, the government, through MoFA, should work with NGOs to empower model farmers in FBOs to develop technological demonstration farms. As a result, they may instruct other farmers on improved agricultural practices and technologies.