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Technology Adoption and Output Difference Among Groundnut Farmers in Northern Ghana

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Abstract

Adoption of improved groundnut production technologies is an important avenue for increasing productivity and improving the living standard of farmers. This study seeks to analyze technology adoption and output difference among groundnut farmers in Northern Ghana. The study used primary and cross-sectional data from 250 groundnut farmers. The Probit regression model and t test were used to analyze the objectives of this study. Results of the study reveals that while household size, distance to district capital, farmer-based organization, and access to credit significantly affects adoption of improved groundnut varieties (IGV), only household size and distance to district capital affected the adoption of agrochemical in production. Also, apart from extension and education which affect adoption of mobile phone, factors such as sex, marital status, distance to district capital, household size, farmer-based organization (FBO), and access to credit significantly influenced the adoption of mechanization and mobile phone, respectively. The study revealed that the average output level of adopters of these improved groundnut technologies was relatively higher than non-adopters. The study recommends that projects/programs and policies related to the introduction and dissemination of improved groundnut production technologies in northern Ghana should draw lessons from studies like this to ensure improved technology uptake.

Résumé

L'adoption des techniques de production améliorés des arachides est un moyen important pour augmenter la productivité et améliorer le niveau de vie des agriculteurs. Cet étude cherche à analyser l’adoption de la technologie et les écarts de production parmi les agriculteurs d’arachides au nord du Ghana. L’étude utilise des donnés primaires transversales recueillies auprès de 250 agriculteurs d’arachides, et un modèle a régression probit et des t test pour les analyser. Les résultats de l’étude révèlent que l’adoption de des variétés d’arachides améliorés (en anglais: improved groundnut varieties—IGV) sont significativement affectés par la taille du ménage, la distance de la capitale du district, la présence d’une organisation d’agriculteurs (en anglais: farmer-based organisation, FBO), et l’accès au crédit. Cependant, l’adoption de l’agrochimie en production n’est affectée que par la taille du ménage et la distance de la capitale du district. De plus (laissant à cote les services d’extension et l’éducation, qui affectent l’adoption des téléphones mobiles), il y a d’autres facteurs—tels que le gendre, l’état civil, la distance de la capital du district, la taille du ménage, la présence d’une organisation d’agriculteurs et l’accès au crédit—qui influencent significativement l’adoption de la mécanisation et des téléphones mobiles. L’étude montre que le niveau de production moyen des agriculteurs adoptant ces technologies de production améliorés des arachides est relativement supérieur à ceux qui ne les ont pas adoptées. Cet étude recommande que les projets, les programmes et les politiques visant l’introduction et la dissémination des technologies de production améliorés des arachides au nord du Ghana prennent en compte les résultats des études comme celui-ci afin d’assurer l’adoption des technologies proposés.

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  1. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana

    Dominic T. Konja

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Konja, D.T. Technology Adoption and Output Difference Among Groundnut Farmers in Northern Ghana. Eur J Dev Res 34, 303–320 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41287-021-00372-6

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