Sustainable Farm Management Practices and their Effects on Hot Pepper Yield In the Agona West Municipality

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of sustainable farm management practice (SFMP) on the yield of hot pepper in the Agona West Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. It adopted a correlational descriptive survey design using a structured interview schedule to elicit information from 140 farmers engaged in hot pepper production. The study found that farmers in the Agona West Municipality of the Central Region who are engaged in hot pepper production frequently practice Integrated Pests Management (IPM), fungicide application, Integrated Weed Management (IWM) and conservation tillage, and occasionally practice irrigation and pruning. A statistically significant and positive relationship was found between the perceived use of IPM, fungicide application, IWM, irrigation and conservation tillage, and yield of hot pepper, except for pruning which was positive but not significant. The major challenges faced by the farmers in the Agona West Municipality in the use of SFMP in hot pepper production were inadequate capital, inadequate labour, land tenure problems and inadequate access to water for irrigation. It is recommended that, government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), and other stakeholders, should intensify extension training and facilitate farmers‘ access to loans and problem-free land to promote SFMPs in the study area to boost hot pepper production. The farmers can also form cooperatives to raise capital through group loans. Key words: Sustainable farm management practice, adoption, hot pepper farmers, hot pepper yield, vegetable production.