Abstract:
This paper presents a study that analysed the partnership between the University of
Cape Coast, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and GTZ (German Technical Cooperation) in
the Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) Project in Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.
Interview schedules, farmer meetings, and field tours were used to collect data from
80 farmers involved in the project. Analysis of students’ dissertations, project documents and
personal communication with students and lecturers/supervisors were also used to gather
data for this study.
The study revealed that the partnership was not necessarily formal but involved
groups with complimentary objectives and roles aimed solving farmers’ problems. The
partnership acted as a forum for rural development. The levels of adoption of the ICP
technologies by farmers were high. The major problem was that of group formation process.
Valuable agricultural data were generated for future programme planning. The interactions
among people involved in the partnership enhanced positive perceptions toward each other.
Among the factors that enhanced the partnership were good and committed
leadership, open-minded communication, and sharing of common resources.
The study suggests, among other things, that partnership between private and public
sectors is possible. However, it should dovetail into existing structures
