Assessing the Factors of Adoption of Agro chemicals by Plantain Farmers in Ghana Using the ASTI Analytical Framework

Transcription

1 Assessing the Factors of Adoption of Agro chemicals by Plantain Farmers in Ghana Using the ASTI Analytical Framework By Irene S. Egyir

2 OUTLINE 1. Relevance of study to GIM forum 2. Lessons learnt from study 3. Profile of Ghana 4. Background to study 5. Objectives of study 6. Methodology 7. Results 8. Conclusions and recommendations

3 1.Relevance of study to GIM Forum Agrochemicals are productivity enhancing tools for small farmers facing problems of soil infertility and high cost of labour. Hence the adoption of agrochemicals is considered a key to inclusive growth. The assumption is that there is effective handling of the chemicals, thereby reducing its environmental consequences, for optimum benefits.

4 2. Lessons learnt from study The key to including the crop farmers, considered the poorest in Ghana s growth is: Good governance: government need to focus on maintaining good policies, strengthening the statutory institutions that support the commodity value chains in stabilising prices, educating future farmers, promoting effective actor networks and mainstreaming diverse groups in all agricultural projects.

5 3. Profile of Ghana ELEMENT GHANA SUB SAHARAN AFRICA Land Area 227,540 23,606,115 Population 23,008, ,821,747 Population Density/sq.Km Pop. Growth 2.1% 2.5% GDP, PPP ($M) 28,646 1,393,488 Manu. as % of GDP 8.5% 14.3% Trade as % of GDP 103% 72% Rural population 52% 64% HDI Pop. with income <$1/day 45% 41% Net enrolment in I o sch. 70% 70% Women in parliament 11% 17%

6 Map of Ghana

7 4. Background to the study The CTA developed the Agricultural Science Technology and Innovation (ASTI) system analysis framework in 2004 to assess the policy environment and how it enhances key actors competencies and performance in relation to innovativeness as well as the effectiveness of linkages among actors of any subsector in an economy.

8 The ASTI system framework Review of policy Identification of Actors (DERDI) Assessment of competencies and practices Assessment of Actor functions Mapping of strength of innovative Actor linkage strategies

9 A case study of plantain in Ghana In 2007 Plantain (musa spp) was selected for case study Plantain is a cooking banana, eaten as main meal or snack Plantain contributes 13% to Ghana s GDP and its distribution is almost limited to the local market. There is an export potential but it is constrained by low volumes due to low yields, attributed to soil infertility, diseases and high cost of labour.

10 Problem statement Plantain s potential yield is 30 Mt/Ha yet the highest known in Ghana is 10 Mt/Ha Productivity enhancing technologies such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides were thus suggested as last resort in the integrated crop and pest management (ICPM) strategy adopted in the last decade The question: what would motivate small holder farmers to adopt outsiders innovation that is productivity enhancing and allows for inclusion in high value markets?

11 Production, area and yield of plantain,

12 Comparing plantain to other staples Graph of staple crops produced in Ghana, percapita production cassava yam plantain year

13 5. Objective of the study The major objective of the study is to assess the adequacy of Ghana s plantain ASTI system and identify the socio economic, technical and institutional factors that influence farmer adoption of agrochemicals in Ghana.

14 6. Methodology Assumptions: plantain farmers (risk neutral) weigh the expected utility of wealth from adoption and non adoption Empirical model: Binary Probit fitted by cross sectional data from survey in 2007 Sampling procedure: stratified random sample of 249 respondents Geographical area of study: communities in four major plantain growing regions where ICPM projects were located

15 Result 1 adequacy of plantain ASTI system ASTI stage Policy Actors Practices and competencies Effectiveness of Actors Functions Innovativeness of Actor linkages Finding Macroeconomic stability Social policies (education, health and environment) Trade and industry policy Agricultural policy (strategies for crops and livestock) Targeting of plantain after 1990 D: Consumers, traders and processors E: Farmers and input dealers R: CSIR, Universities, GAEC and Farm Institutes D:MoFA extension, NGOs, FBOs I: Finance, transport and market places Traditional practices and low competencies but learning by doing, using and interaction Fairly effective; constrained by low budgetary and logistics allocation Fairly strong traditional linkages ; low level innovativeness.

16 Nature of political regimes and agricultural policy in Ghana, Regime Period Nature of agricultural policy 1 st Republic (Nkrumah) year development plan: Input price subsidies, State farms; Buying centers and guaranteed prices for durable crops; Restrictive international trade policy No targets for plantain. 1 st Military (Afrifa) 2 nd republic (Busia) 2 nd Military (Acheampong) 3 rd Military (Akuffo) 4 th Military (Rawlings) 3 rd Republic (Limann) year development plan year development plan year development plan No specific plan June September 1979 No specific plan No specific plan Subsidies, guaranteed prices for durable crops Liberal international trade policy No targets for plantain. Subsidies, guaranteed prices liberal international trade policy No targets for plantain. Input price subsidies, guaranteed prices Restrictive international trade policy Specific targets for plantain. Input price subsidies, guaranteed prices, Restrictive international trade policy; No targets for plantain Input price subsidies, guaranteed prices; Restrictive international trade policy; No targets for plantain Input price subsidies, guaranteed prices, Liberal international trade policy No targets for plantain.

17 Nature of political regimes and agricultural policy in Ghana, th Military (Rawlings) 4 th Republic (Rawlings) 4 th Republic (Kufuor) ERP/SAPs SAP/Vision GPRS I &II Removal of input price subsidies, Phasing out of guaranteed prices, Liberal international trade policy No targets for plantain MTADP: ( ); AAGDS No input price subsidies, Liberal pricing policy, Liberal international trade policy No formal targets for plantain Some donor funded projects FASDEPs; GADS; AgSSIP Modernisation of agriculture Women s access to resources Targets for plantain under AgSSIP Some donor funded projects

18 Plantain projects implemented by Crops Research Institute of CSIR since 1991 Period Project Donor and Plantain Improvement Project International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP) Plantain Project and Establishment of a delivery system for healthy improved Musa germplasm with field tolerance to banana streak virus (BSV) in Production of bananas and plantains in the peri-urban zones of Ghana World Bank GATSBY Charitable Foundation Bio-diversity International (formerly INIBAP-IPGRI) Plantain Target Project USAID Addressing micronutrient Bio-diversity International (formerly deficiencies in urban and peri- INIBAP-IPGRI) urban populations in West and through Musa-based foods Developing plantain coconut intercropping systems for the coastal belt of Government of France

19 Result 2: Probit estimation Dep.: Adopt Variable Coefficient Robust Std error Marginal effects Constant AGE 1.514* GENDER RES * EDUC 2.625* YEARS *** FMSIZE ** MOTIVE DISTANCE *

20 Probit estimation cont d INCOME 6.41e-07* 1.17e e-08 CASH * LABOUR * HI-TECH 1.854* EXTN 0.851** FIN 1.325* NGO FBO Number of observations Percent correctly predicted Wald chi2(16) Prob >chi2 Log-pseudo likelihood value Pseudo R-squared

21 Factors influencing adoption of agrochemicals by plantain farmers in Ghana Factor Socioeconomic Older age Non indigene Literacy small farm size new entrants remote farming owners of non cash crops Technical High income (yield) low access to hired labour Access to spraying machine Institutional linkage with extension linkage with credit source Explanation The vulnerable (illiterate and youth) are still excluded Gender is non issue: women s participation in innovation adoption has improved Remote and rural communities are being reached with information on good agricultural practices The gains from innovation adoption (albeit marginal) compensates for lack of manual labour and allows for use of machinery Local institutions that facilitate provision of technical information and needed funds cannot be ignored

22 Conclusions Ghana has a policy framework and established institutions that support (albeit not highly) plantain farmers. Plantain farmers are adopting productivity enhancing technologies. Farmer personal characteristics that are necessary to support changed behaviour include formal education and ability to link up with extension and financial services To include plantain farmers in high value markets the effort of farmers as well as the support of government and private sector service providers would be needed.

23 Recommendations Policy can focus on three key areas: The first is to target plantain technologies in remote locations where probability of adoption is high. Second, there is the need to provide extension education that demonstrates risk reduction capacities of innovations. Third, local institutions that hold capital resources, whether governmental or non governmental need to be encouraged and strengthened to intensify linkages with plantain farmers. Local institutions would be depended upon to bring the young, illiterate, low income and indigene farmers up to be part of the science, technology and innovation system in Ghana.

24 End of presentation