Employment of Inappropriate Technologies in Agriculture: a Recipe for Lower Production

Abstract

Maize production practices of four Farmer Based Organizations in the Kpando District of the Volta Region of Ghana were studied prior to the training in Commercial Development and Good Agricultural Practices for the Farmer Based Organizations. Demographic characteristics of respondents and the rate of adoption of available technologies were analyzed using frequencies, percentages and means while regression analysis was used for the yield data. Males constituted 60% of the population whilst 40% were females. The district had a relatively young farming population with 56% of the farmers below 45 years. The level of education of respondents was low. Eighty-two percent of respondents had not attained senior high school education. Majority (56%) of respondents had been farming for less than 20 years. The rate of adoption of technologies was low and maize yields were very low averaging 0.375 t/ha in the district. There were no differences in yields amongst the four FBOs. The yield of farmers could increase significantly when farmers adopt improved agricultural technologies.