Abstract

Groundnut production is a major economic activity of smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. However, these farmers face production losses through Aflatoxin infestation and bad weather conditions which require the use of right planting materials by farmers. This study seeks to analyze determinants of certified groundnut seed (CGS) adoption in Northern Ghana. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to collect cross-sectional data from 250 smallholder groundnut farmers. The Cragg’s double hurdle regression model was used to analyze factors that affect farmers’ decision to adopt CGS and its adoption intensity. The factors that affect farmers’ adoption decision of CGS include, sex of farmer, membership of farmer-based organization (FBO), extension service, price of groundnut seed, distance to output market, distance to input market, and form of groundnut produce sale. The factors that predict farmers’ adoption intensity of CGS include; sex of farmer, household size, education, extension service, previous income from groundnut, price of groundnut seed, distance to output market, distance to input market, and form of groundnut produce sale. The study recommends that Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) should intensify extension service delivery and promotions on CGS. Farmers should endeavour to join farmer-based organizations and village savings and loan associations to enable them get necessary information capacity to acquire CGS. Farmers should take advantage of planting for food and jobs so as to have access to CGS.

Key words: Certified groundnut seed, adoption intensity, Cragg’s double hurdle model, Northern Ghana.