Underlying Constructs of Small-Holder Farmers’ Perceptions and Attitude towards Improved Maize Technology in Bawku West District of Ghana

Abstract

The study analysed farmers’ perceptions and attitudes towards improved maize technology among smallholder maize farmers in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Exploratory survey design was employed with multi-stage sampling techniques in sampling 400 maize farmers. Semi-structured questionnaire, observations, and focus group discussions were the main methods employed in data collection. Also Q – methodological process was employed in gathering farmers’ narratives on improved maize technology. Exploratory Factor analysis was employed to examine the underlying constructs characterizing farmers’ perception towards improved maize technology. The results identified six factors as the underlying constructs characterizing farmers’ perceptions towards improved maize technology. These factors were inaccessibility issues, inappropriateness of some production recommendations, complexity and incompatibility of production recommendations, cost and affordability issues and poor capacity of farmers to adopt improved technologies. Farmer education on improved maize technologies should be intensified by the department of agriculture in the district to help build the capacity of farmers and inculcate in them positive attitude towards the production recommendations in the improved maize technology package.

Key words: perceptions, attitude, constructs, improved maize technology and Qmethodology