Assessing the factors of adoption of agrochemicals by plantain farmers in Ghana

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the key factors that influence the adoption of agrochemicals on plantain farms in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs probit estimation using data from a stratified random sample of 249 farmers in four districts in Ghana. Findings: The results show that adoption of agrochemicals is positively associated with: being literate, older than 40 years of age, having higher income from sales, living in villages distant to Accra (capital of Ghana), having access to hi-tech machinery, being migrant, and being linked to extension services and financial institutions. Contrary to expectation, a farmer's gender and association with farmer-based organizations (FBO) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) did not make a difference. Practical implications: The results suggest that there are no exclusions to innovation systems such as agrochemical adoption based on gender or living in rural areas; women are just as technologically empowered as men, while rural farmers have an option to retain their indigenous management practices or adopt new and improved practices such as using agrochemicals. Major efforts to improve access to agrochemical adoption lie with government extension officers, as the functions of FBO and NGO have yet to make a significant difference. More needs to be done to bring young, illiterate, low income and indigene farmers into inclusive plantain science techniques and applications in Ghana. Originality/value: The paper reveals how vulnerable groups such as rural populations and women plantain farmers are being included in systems that support agrochemical adoption.