Drivers of initial adoption, continuous adoption and dis-adoption of selected rice varieties among rice farmers in Northern Ghana

Abstract

The government of Ghana has given significant attention to promoting adoption of rice varieties among farmers in Ghana. However, there are low adoption and high dis-adoption rates of rice varieties in Ghana. This study employed a Multivariate Probit model to estimate the drivers of initial adoption, continuous adoption and dis-adoption of rice varieties in Northern Ghana. The study used multistage sampling technique to collect primary data from 404 rice farmers in the study area. Rice farmers’ adoption and dis-adoption decisions were significantly affected by age, gender, farm size, rice perception, extension services, market agents, and rainfall, among others. The interrelations among the rice varieties imply that farm-level policies that affect the adoption or dis-adoption of one rice variety can influence the adoption or dis-adoption of the other varieties. The policy implications are that failure to promote new varieties in the study area could result in massive dis-adoption of the existing varieties, low rice productivity, extreme poverty and hunger among farmers. The government of Ghana should therefore continue to promote improved rice varieties to ensure continuous adoption among farmers. Stakeholders in the rice sector should also intensify extension services to farmers, gender inclusive programmes, irrigation schemes and market opportunities to farmers.