Assessing the determinants of adoption of improved cassava varieties among farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study examined the adoption of improved cassava varieties among 350 cassava farmers in the Sekyere South District of Ashanti Region of Ghana. The improved cassava varieties introduced into the district were ‘Bankye Hemaa’, ‘Bankye Esam’ and ‘Bankye Afisiafi’. Among the respondents, 15 per cent have adopted at least one of the improved cassava varieties and 85 per cent were non adopters. The determinants of adoption and number of improved cassava varieties adopted by the farmers were analysed with the Probit and Tobit model. The results of the Probit model showed that extension services, access to credit, education, marital status, farmer based organization, and household size have significant positive effect on the probability of farmers to adopt improved cassava varieties. The Tobit estimates indicated that farmer based organization, household size, farm size, and extension contact positively influence the number of improved cassava varieties that farmers adopt. Age had negative influence on number of improved cassava varieties adopted. The study showed that in order to enhance adoption of improved cassava varieties, extension services should be intensified, farmers should form or join groups; farmers should also register with the credit union in the district to have access to credit. Policy makers and crop breeders should come out with varieties that best suit farmers’ objectives.