Abstract:
Maize constitutes more than 50 percent of Ghana's total cereal production and the basic source of staple food for a majority of households in Ghana. Despite CSIR releasing several agricultural technologies, improved maize varieties, maize production in Ghana is heavily below what is economically and technically feasible. The persistent low productivity, which may be attributed to the low adoption of agricultural technologies results in low farm yield, reduced farmers‘ income and derail their welfare. It is in this light that this study sought to assess the adoption and effect of improved maize varieties on poverty outcomes among maize farmers in the Akuapem-North Municipality, one of the leading districts in maize production in Ghana. Specifically, the study sought to highlight the factors influencing the adoption of improved maize varieties in the Akuapem-North Municipality; examine the effect of the adoption of improved maize varieties variety on the poverty outcome of farmers in Akuapem-North Municipality; and lastly, investigate the factors hindering farmers in Akuapem-North Municipality from adopting of improved maize varieties. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design and the quantitative research approach to achieve the research objectives. Employing the multistage sampling technique, the study sampled 367 smallholder farmers from the top five maize-producing communities in the Akuapem North Municipality. These communities are Saforo, Tinkon, Mangoase, Adowso, and Konko. Data was collected with a questionnaire in the year 2021 from the sampled smallholder farmers and the binary logistic regression was used as the estimation technique. The study revealed that out of the 367 farmers sampled, 258 representing 70 percent adopted improved maize varieties whereas 109 representing 30 percent did not adopt improved maize varieties. The study further revealed that farm yields, membership in farm-based organizations, access to credit or finance, government policies, farmers‘ income, and market prices for maize products significantly increased the likelihood for farmers to adopt improved maize varieties. Contrarily, the high cost of improved seeds, unavailability of seeds, and unfavourable government policies hindered farmers from adopting improved maize varieties. Furthermore, the study revealed that farmers who adopted improved maize varieties fell in the non-poor category while the majority of the farmers who did not adopt improved maize varieties were in the poor category. To address this, government policies should prioritize increasing educational opportunities for farmers and reducing the cost of improved seeds. It also recommends that farmers join farm-based organizations to gain access to valuable insights and keep up with the latest agricultural technology trends.
