Abstract

In spite of substantial investments in developing and disseminating improved maize production technologies by successive governments and several development partners, technology adoption in Ghana remains low. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence the extent of adoption of improved maize production technologies among farmers in northern Ghana. A Tobit regression model was used to analyse the determinants of the extent of technology adoption. Results of the study revealed that formal education, farming experience, extension contact, access to credit, and membership of a farmer-based organisation are significant determinants of the extent of adoption of all three technologies considered. Moreover, sex of household head did not influence the extent of adoption of improved seeds but was rather significant in the case of fertiliser application and row planting. The study recommends that projects/programmes and policies related to the introduction and dissemination of improved maize production technologies in northern Ghana should draw lessons from studies like this to ensure improved technology uptake.

Key words: Adoption, improved technologies, maize, Tobit regression.