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Main Article Content
Influence of Communication on Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Agriculture Innovations in Damongo of the Savannah Region of Ghana
Smith Wayo Mahama
Jacob Ibrahim Abudu
Agape Kanyiri Damwah
Ebenezer Tawiah Arhin
Abstract
Farmers continue to adopt varied innovations as a way of helping them improve their food security. This study assessed communication factors affecting the adoption of agricultural innovations among farmers in Damongo in the Savannah region. The study relied on Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory. The study employed a descriptive cross sectional study design. The study was targeted at smallholder farmers within the study area. Simple random sampling technique was applied to obtain eligible participants of 272 from a study population of 850. A structured questionnaire was used to gather the data. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) windows version 26.0. The results show that all 272 farmers indicated that they were adopting the application of fertilizers at the study setting. About 60.7% of the respondents did not adopt disease resistant crop varieties at the study setting as part of innovations in farming. From the results, 55.1% of respondents indicated that they had ever felt the positive effect of using agricultural innovations. There was a significant association between off farm occupation and age of respondents, and Innovation usage (p= 0.000, p=0.014). Also, a logistic regression model was adopted to analyze the effect of channels of information on farmers’ adoption of agriculture innovations. The results revealed that all channels of information were statistically significant and farmers that used these channels were more likely to adopt. From the results, 72.1% of respondents said agricultural innovation helps them to process cassava into flour. The results also indicate that there is a moderate association between educational level and innovation usage. Based on the results, the study concluded that, farmers were aware of certain agricultural innovations used in the study setting. The study also concluded that age and off farm occupation also influences Innovation usage. The study recommended more education by Extension Officers on how farmers in the study setting could adopt agricultural innovation to improve food security.
