Agricultural Technology Adoption in Ghana: Improved Tomato Seed Variety Adoption in Perspective

Abstract

This study investigates the factors that influence farmers' adoption of Improved Tomatoes Seed Variety (ITSV) and how they affect farmers' production efficiency. With the help of multi-stage sampling procedure, a total of 508 farmers were chosen for interviews from three agro-ecological zones in Ghana. The factors influencing the adoption of ITSV were assessed using a multinomial logit (ML), while the effect and evaluation, validation and accounting for selectivity bias were carried-out using the stochastic metafrontier (SMF) models, propensity score-matching (PSM) technique, Inverse Probability Weight (IPW), and Augmented Inverse Probability Weight (AIPW). The results of the ML model indicated that farmers were more likely to select ITSV over the local variety if they were male, resided in the Forest Savannah Transitional Zone (FSTZ), were relatively wealthy and benefited from financing, and thought that improved varieties increased yields. In particular, the mean technical efficiency (TE) of farmers who adopted Pectomer, Pectomer and Power-Roma was 90.9% and 93.1%, respectively, compared to 86.2% and 88.8% if they had not adopted; this suggests that adopters are more efficient than those who did not adopt. Land, seed, insecticide, and tractor services positively influenced tomato production among adopters of the ITSV. The study suggests that using qualified extension agents and giving farmers credit could increase the adoption of improved tomato varieties by tomato farmers. Hence, this study advocates for government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to provide more capacity training to extension officer in order for them to effectively deliver their mandate.

 Keywords: Adoption, Tomato seeds, Production Efficiency, Selectivity bias, Agro-ecological zones