Channels and Methods of Communicating Agricultural Innovations to rice farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

Farmers in Ghana have benefited from technology dissemination programmes of high-yielding crop varieties to enhance their  productivity and increase incomes. This study examined the channels and methods used to communicate information on agricultural  innovations to rice farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to collect primary data through a  survey of 404 rice farmers and key informant interviews with 34 agricultural extension officers, as well as 48 focus group discussions with  selected groups of rice farmers coupled with non-participant observations made on the field. The data were analysed using Descriptive  statistics such as percentages, means and standard deviations. The empirical results show that fellow (contact) farmers (89.1%),  researchers and extension agents (51.4%), and certified seeds and input dealers (42.3%) are the most prevalent channels of agricultural  innovation communication in the study area. Farm and home visits (99.0%), and method demonstrations (98.8%), and radio/television /internet broadcasts (98.5%) are also considered to be the most prevalent methods used to communicate information on agricultural innovations like improved rice seeds in the region. Key factors that account for the various channels and methods used include logistical  constraints, time constraints, availability of extension personnel, ethical considerations, and acceptability by the farmers. Hence, any new information to rice farmers should be channeled through contact farmers, researchers and extension agents, and likewise, radio or  television or via the internet. Since extension teaching methods (ETMs) are not used in isolation, a combination of farm and home visits,  and demonstration farms, coupled with radio broadcasts, would enhance innovation communication and uptake. Finally,stakeholders,  especially government, should channel more resources to boost the most used/ accepted individual, group and mass ETMs, especially  farm and home visits, method demonstrations and radio broadcasts prevailing in the study area.