Small scale maize farmers and application of improved agricultural technologies: A case Study of Ejura-Sekyeoomasi district of Ghana

Abstract

This thesis examines the issue of small scale farmers' application of improved agricultural technologies, The study concentrates on small scale maize production, a major rural activity in Ghana, and seeks [Q assess farmers' supply response resulting from th~ application of improved maize produc[lon technologies. Several studies on fanners' supply response e'dst However. most of these studies often concentrated upon farmers' response to price changes hence the exclu~ive focus on price factors as the major variable in e.xplaining farmers' supply responses. This present study posired that ~non-price" factors In particular applic3[1()n of improved technologies are major determinants of agflcultural supply - Thn:... improved maize production technologIes, namely, plaming of improved variety (I) application of chemical fertiliur (II) and tractor ploughing (lJI} and combina[iuns of these technologies were investigated, Results of rhe survey revealed [hat: first, rhe planung of improved variet)' (I) was the most commonly applied of rhe improved maize producrion rechnologies Second, the prevailing governmem economic policies were [he most irnponan( factor influencing the levels of application of improved maize production technologies. Fifty ei,ght per cem of the respondents applied the combInation uf all three !echnologies ([ + 1I + III), 22 per cent applied two out of the Ihree technologies ([ + 1I, I + III, II + III) whilst 20 per cent applied only one Th!rd, the application of the improved maize production technologies (I, 1I and 1I1) did not significantly influence the quantity of maize supplied (QS I. Rather, gross margtn (GM) and fann size (R) were the significant factors that influenced the quantity of maize supplied (QS) The study thus shows that small scale maize farmers In (he stuJy ar~a need to be encouraged to improve on theIr farm SlleS. Govenunenl shOUld also provide the requisite education and demonstration through the development of stronger relationship between small scale farmers and extensIOn agents.