Abstract

Increasing local production and savings in foreign exchange is important that local rice producers are supplied with quality seed in a timely manner. The overall goal of the research was to assess the seed-rice production potential amongst rice farmer groups in Ghana. A two-stage sampling technique was deployed in the sampling process. Analysis of data was mainly by mean, frequencies and percentages, while the Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was used to rank opportunities and challenges. The stochastic frontier approach using the Cobb-Douglas model was used in determining production technical efficiency. Empirical results disclosed that high group cohesiveness among rice member groups helps to attain individual goals and ensure member commitment. The most important production opportunities for rice production were identified as timely extension contacts, suitability of production agroecology and access to production inputs. Lack of production and processing equipment, however, was a key constraint. Overall, rice farmers within all the study groups were technically efficient. The study recommends that government, stakeholders, and rice farmer groups should invest into timely agricultural extension services, and equipment such as planting equipment; machinery, milling equipment, and bird exclusion nets and devices.

Key words: Cohesiveness, improved seed production, potential, resource use, rice farmer groups, stochastic frontier approach, technical efficiency.