Analysis Of Technology Transfer Process And Its Implication On Adoption Of Improved Palm Oil Processing Technology By Women In Ho District

Abstract

Oil palm processing is one of the occupations of women in the Dodome and Tsyome communities in the Ho district of the Volta Region of Ghana. To assist women to increase production, Agricultural Sector Improvement Project (ASIP) and Helping Hand Association for Women’s Development (HHAWD) have introduced improved palm oil processing technologies into these communities. However these technologies are not being used. The study was conducted to determine the technology transfer process used and also identify problems that are militating against the trial and the subsequent adoption of the improved technology. A descriptive research was employed to collect data. A sample of 132 small-scale palm oil processors was randomly selected for the study. In addition, 8 officials from ASIP and HHAWD were purposively sampled to provide information about the improved technology. Interviews and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that the beneficiaries of the improved technology saw the need for the technology. However, factors such as Technical fault on the equipment, problems combining processing using the improved technology with farming, lack of credit, management problems among others have negatively influenced the trial and adoption of the technology. The failure of the people to try and adopt the improved technology has been attributed to the following: • Some vital principles of technology transfer, such as the determination of the resource base of the beneficiaries, the involvement of the beneficiaries in the selection and introduction of the equipment and thorough training of the beneficiaries in the use of the equipment, were not followed during the transfer of the technology. • Economic activities such as farming, petty-trading among others are more lucrative to the people than palm oil processing. • There are some technical problems with the equipment. It is recommended that: • Decisions to transfer improved technologies in the form of equipment to clients in rural areas must be demand-driven if they are to be accepted. • Thorough investigations of the needs and priorities and the resource base of beneficiaries should be carried out so as to make sure the innovations meet the felt needs of the people. -• Beneficiaries of improved technologies are involved in the selection and introduction of the technologies so as to avoid their rejection. • There should be an organisation of adequate training for beneficiaries in the use of improved technologies especially machinery. • Institution of credit facilities for beneficiaries to enable them acquire the necessary inputs. Monitoring of rural projects by implementers needs to be intensified so as to ensure that problems with such projects are readily identified and solved.