Factors Influencing the Use of Inorganic Fertilizer by Farmers in Ghana

Abstract

The agricultural sector in Ghana is characterised by low productivity partly due to declining soil fertility. Governments of Ghana have assisted farmers to use fertilizer to improve the fertility of soils through the fertilizer subsidy programme. However, the factors influencing the use of inorganic fertilizer which is the study have not been fully explored. The study used a descriptive-correlation survey design to collect data from the six agroecological zones of Ghana. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. Cross tabulations were used to determine differences between some independent variables. The Pearson's product-moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between fertilizer use and the independent variables of the study. The multiple linear regression was used determine the best predictors of fertilizer use. The results of the study showed that most farmers (69.7%) were found to be in the age group of 35-60 years. Most maize farmers (84.4%) use fertilizer at rates lower than the recommended rate of 375kg/ha. The mean quantity of fertilizer used per year by maize farmers in Ghana is 76.3kg/ha. Most farmers (71.8%) were found to have positive attitude towards the use of fertilizer. The study revealed that cost of fertilizer, farmers' attitude towards fertilizer use, and extension information support were the best predictors of fertilizer use, and all together accounted for 41% of the independent variables contribution to the variance in fertilizer use. The study recommends among others that to improve fertilizer use in Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the private sector should collaborate to invest and improve the port, road and rail infrastructure to reduce distribution and fertilizer costs so as to make fertilizer affordable to farmers. AIso researchers should work towards coming out with application recommendations for specific soil types.