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.
