Influence of Socio-economic Characteristics of Cocoa Farmers on the Use of E-agriculture in Ghana
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Published
Jul 7, 2020
Page:
82-91
Main Article Content
Daniel Ayisi Nyarko
Enyedi Gyorgy School of Regional Sciences, Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary.
József Kozári
Institute of Regional Economics and Rural Development, Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary.
Abstract
The emergence of modern communication technology has influenced lives of many people and businesses around the world. It has revolutionized agribusiness activities, improved communication and information access among farmers. Amid of this technophilia, many cocoa farmers are still challenged with agricultural and extension information access in Ghana. The main objective of this study was to ascertain the socio-economic factors that influerence cocoa farmers use of e-agriculture services. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 113 cocoa farmers’ household from the Akyease cocoa district. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS software version 22. The study revealed that farmer education, household income, gender, among other factors were the main determinants of farmers' e-agriculture information access. It was therefore recommended that a comprehensive educational programme should be introduced to cocoa farmers to enhance their education and the use of e-agriculture services.
Keywords:
E-agriculture, cocoa farmers, socio-economic characteristics, Ghana.
Article Details
How to Cite
Nyarko, D. A., & Kozári, J. (2020). Influence of Socio-economic Characteristics of Cocoa Farmers on the Use of E-agriculture in Ghana. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 38(6), 82-91. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2020/v38i630366
Section
Original Research Article
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World Cocoa Foundation. Report on Land Tenure & Cocoa Production in Ghana. A CRIG/WCF Collaborative Survey; 2017.
Wolfert S, Lan G, Verdouw C, Bogaardt M. Big data in small farming-a review. Agric. Sys. 2017;153:69–80.
Gerber N, Alisher M. Benefits of action and costs of inaction: Drought mitigation and preparedness – A Literature Review (Geneva & Stockholm: World Meteorological Organization & Global Water Partnership, 2017) Integrated Drought Management Programme Working Paper. 2017;1.
FAO. E-agriculture promising practice UPTAKE: driving adoption of agri-technologies through information and communication technologies (ICT). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2018.
Available:http://www.fao.org/3/I9142EN/i9142en.pdf
FAO, ITU. E-Agriculture Strategy Guide: A summary. FAO and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Bangkok; 2017.
Available:http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6909e.pdf
Agwu EA, Nwokorie UM. Challenges and opportunities for ICT adoption in agricultural extension. ICT update Newsletter; 2019.
Available:https://ictupdate.cta.int/en/article/
challenges-and-opportunities-for-ict-adoption-i
n-agricultural-extension-sid03b7c751a-f2db-48c7-a5ed-40344e00e00a
Accessed on 20/11/2019
FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010. 2016. Roma, Italy.
Mawazo MM. Linking rural farmers to markets using ICTs. The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) working paper 15/12. Wageningen, The Netherlands; 2015.
Etwire PM, Buah S, Ouédraogo M, Zougmoré R, Partey ST, Martey E, Dayamba SD, Bayala J. An assessment of mobile phone-based dissemination of weather and market information in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Agric. Food Sec. 2017;6(1):8.
Asante-Poku A, Angelucci F. Analysis of incentives and disincentives for Cocoa in Ghana. Technical notes series, MAFAP. FAO, Rome; 2016.
Abbadi S, Senadza B, Lieuw-Kie-Song M, Abebe H. Assessing the employment effects of processing Cocoa in Ghana. International Labour organization, Geneva, Switzerland; 2019.
ISSN:1999-2947
GSS. Population and Housing Census: District Analytical report. Ghana Statistical Service; 2010, Accra.
Schulte-Herbrüggen B. The importance of bushmeat in the livelihoods of cocoa farmers living in a wildlife depleted farm-forest landscape, SW Ghana. (doctoral thesis) Department of Anthropology, University College London; 2011.
COCOBOD. Report of the Committee on Application of High Technology Method on Cocoa Production in Ghana. Ghana Cocoa Board; 2002. Accra, Ghana.
World Cocoa Foundation. Report on Land Tenure & Cocoa Production in Ghana. A CRIG/WCF Collaborative Survey; 2017.
Available:https://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/
wpcontent/uploads/files_mf/1492612620CRIGLandTenureSurveyFinal41217.pdf
Lamontagne-Godwin J, Williams F, Bandara WM, Appiah-Kubi Z. Quality of extension advice: A gendered case study from Ghana and Sri Lanka. The J. Agric. Edu. & Ext. 2017;23(1):7–22.
DOI:10.1080/1389224X.2016.1230069
Donkoh SA, Azumah S, Awuni JA. Adoption of improved agricultural Technologies among Rice Farmers in Ghana: A Multivariate Probit Approach. Ghana J. Dev. Stud. 2019;3(16):46.
Kante M, Oboko R, Chepken C. Influence of perception and quality of ICT-based agricultural input information on use of ICTs by farmers in developing countries: Case of Sikasso in Mali. Electron J. Inf. Syst. Dev. Ctries. 2017;83(1):1-21.
DOI:10.1002/j.1681-4835.2017.tb00617.x
MOFA. The districts in Eastern region.
Available:http://mofa.gov.gh/site/?page_id=1508. Accessed on 15/04/2016
FAO. FAO report on gender inequality in rural employment in Ghana Overview. Research and Extension, FAO; 2012. Rome, Italy.
Higgins T, Fenrich J. Legal Pluralism, Gender, and Access to Land in Ghana. Fordham Environmental Law Review. 2012;7-21.
GSS. 2010 Population and Housing Census Report: Children, Adolescents and Young people in Ghana; 2013.
Arhin BG. Ghana Agricultural News Digest – February 8, 2016: Ghana Strategy Support Program, International Food.
Weir S. The effects on education on farmer productivity in rural Ethiopia. Working Paper CSAE WPS99-7. Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford; 1999.
Available:https://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/files_mf/1492612620CRIGLandTenureSurveyFinal41217.pdf
Anang BT, Backman S, Sipilainen. Adoption and income effects of agricultural extension in northern Ghana. J. Sci. Afr. 2020;77:1-11.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf. 2019.e00219
Paylab Ghana. Salaries in category: Education, Science & Research; 2017.
Available:https://www.paylab.com/gh/salaryinfo/education-science-research. Accessed 08/02/2018
Yaseen M, Xu S, Wen Y. Factors inhabiting ICTs usage among farmers: A comparative analysis from Pakistan and China. Open J. Soc. Sci. 2016;4:287–294.
Zanu HK, Antwiwaa A, Agyemang CT. Factors influencing technology adoption among pig farmers in Ashanti region of Ghana. J. Agric. Tech. 2012;8(1):81-92.
Ali J. Factors affecting the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for farming decisions. J Agric Food Inf. 2012;13(1):78–96.
DOI:10.1080/10496505.2012.636980
Asante BO, Villano RA, Battese GE. The effect of the adoption of yam minisett technology on the technical efficiency of yam farmers in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana Afr. J. Agric. Res. Econ. 2014;9(2):75-90.
Asiedu-Darko E. Effects of gender, education and age on the adoption of agricultural technologies in Ashanti, Northern and Eastern regions of Ghana. J. Appl. Sci. & Res. 2014;2(1):112:118- 67.