i THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION FOR RURAL POVERTY REDUCTION: A SITUATIONAL STUDY IN THE ASHANTI REGION By Francis Annan B.ED (Social Studies) Degree and Diploma in Economics A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In Development Policy and Planning Department of Planning College of Architecture and Planning JULY, 2012 ii DECLARATION I hereby declare that this is my own work towards the MSc and that, to the best of my knowledge; it contains no material previously published by another person or material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the University, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. Francis Annan (PG 3282309) ………………….. …………………… (Student) Signature Date Certified by: Mr. Ronald Adamtey …………………… …...………………… (Supervisor) Signature Date Certified by: Dr. Imoro Braimah ………………….. …………………. (Head of Department) Signature Date ii iii ABSTRACT The majority of agricultural producers in Ghana still use the traditional approach in crop production with technological change very slow and minimal. In view of this, Agricultural Extension Services have been adopted by the government as a major agricultural transformation strategy. Nevertheless, the expected impact from the intervention has not been realized due to inadequate funding, lack of logistics, insufficient Field Staffs and non-participatory modes of technology transfer. This is the problem which the study investigated taking Ashanti Region as a case study. The study was guided by the following objectives; the examination of the nature of the extension services provided and the assessment of the institutional and logistical arrangements put in place for the extension services delivery. The study further sought to assess the modes of agricultural technology dissemination, examine the feedback mechanisms and, based on the findings, recommendations were made towards effective extension services delivery. A case study method was adopted in which Ashanti Region was chosen to facilitate the ease of data collection. Respondents were selected through a simple random sampling technique to gather data from the farmers using structured questionnaires from three purposively sampled Districts of Ahafo-Ano South, Atwima-Nwabiagya and Ejisu-Juaben Districts. Institutional survey involving the Directorates of Agriculture in the selected Districts was also embarked upon. The study identified that 100 percent of the farmers received agricultural technology whilst an average of 53.3 percent of them received non agricultural technology. The study also identified a deficiency in logistical supply, inadequate and irregular government funding. It was also revealed that 89 Agricultural Extension Agents were required in the Districts but 47 of them were available, creating a huge deficit of 42. Recommendations were made to help provide solutions to the challenges of extension services provision in the country. Some of these include disseminating technology to farmers in manageable groups of a maximum of twenty, increasing logistical and EFS capacity, motivating Field Staffs, institutionalizing provision of credit in kind and establishing a National Extension Services Provision Fund to help make extension services delivery sustainable. iii iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am greatly indebted to all persons who contributed in diverse ways for me to successfully put together this piece of research, particularly Messrs Clifford Amoako and Ronald Adamtey, my supervisors and all those texts I have acknowledged. Indeed, words cannot describe how grateful I am to all and sundry whose assistance has propelled me to climb further the academic ladder. My sincere gratitude goes to God Almighty for showing me abundant mercy, my course director Dr. K. O. Agyeman and lecturer Professor Stephen Owusu for their wonderful guidance and counseling, my lovely wife, Mrs. Lucy Annan for her support and encouragement and Mr. Joseph Obi for editing most of my assignments before presentation. iv v TABLE OF CONTENT Page Declaration ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ii Abstract ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. iii Acknowledgement ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. iv Dedication ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. v Table of Content ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. vi List of Tables .…. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. x List of Figures ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. x List of Acronyms ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ix CHAPTER ONE: RURAL LIVELIHOODS IMPROVEMENT: CHALLENGES AND KEY ISSUES 1 1.1 Introduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 1 1.2 Problem Statement ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 2 1.3 Research Questions ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 4 1.4 Statement of Objectives….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 4 1.5 Scope of the Study ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 5 1.6 Justification of the Study….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 5 1.7 Limitations of the Study….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 6 1.8 Organization of the Report….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 7 CHAPTER TWO: AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES SYSTEM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 8 2.1 Introduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 8 2.2 Development of Agricultural Extension Services Delivery in Ghana 8 2.3 Organizational Structure of Extension Services Delivery in Ghana 9 2.4 Agricultural Extension Services Models and their Approaches and Methods of Technology Dissemination 11 2.4.1 Transfer of Technology (TOT) Model….. ….. ….. ….. 11 2.4.2 The Public Extension Model ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 12 2.4.3 Commodity Extension Model….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 13 2.4.4 Training and Visit (T&V) Extension Model ….. ….. ….. 14 2.4.5 Private Sector Extension Model….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 15 vi vi 2.4.6 Farmer Field School (FFS) Extension Model….. ….. ….. ….. 16 2.5 Impacts of the Extension Services Models in Agricultural Modernization and Poverty Reduction ….. ….. ….. ….. 17 2.6 Impact of Agricultural Extension Services Provision on Poverty Reduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 18 2.7 The Sustainability of Extension Services Provision in Developing Countries….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 22 2.7.1 Funding of Extension Services ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 23 2.7.2 Legal and Policy Framework ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 25 2.7.3 The Role of the Private Sector in Extension Services Delivery ….. 25 2.8 Challenges of Extension Services Provision in Africa ….. ….. 26 2.8.1 Inadequate Transport Facilities….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 26 2.8.2 Lack of Extension Field Staffs….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 26 2.8.3 Inadequate Financial Resources….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 26 2.8.4 Improper Policy Focus ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 27 2.8.5 Weak Legislation on Agricultural Extension Services ….. ….. 27 2.8.6 Weak Institutions and Inadequate Logistics….. ….. ….. ….. 28 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ….. 29 3.1 Introduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 29 3.2 Research Design ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 29 3.3 Data Categories and Sources ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 30 3.4 Data Collection Tools / Instruments….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 31 3.4.1 Interview Guide ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 31 3.4.2 Structured Questionnaires ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 31 3.4.3 A Pen Drive and Telephone Interviews ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 31 3.5 Key Data Variables for the Study and their Measurement ….. 32 3.6 Sampling Techniques ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 32 3.7 Data Processing, Analysis and Reporting Framework ….. ….. 34 vii CHAPTER FOUR: STRUCTURE OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICES IN THE ASHANTI REGION ….. 38 4.1 Introduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 38 4.2 Characteristics of the Selected Districts ….. ….. ….. ….. 38 4.2.1 Location ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 38 4.2.2 Structure of Agriculture ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 40 4.2.3 Infrastructure ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 41 4.2.4 Institutional Framework for Agricultural Management ….. ….. 42 4.2.5 Condition of the Built Environment….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 42 4.3 Socio-economic Characteristics of the Respondents ….. ….. 42 4.3.1 Educational Background of Respondents….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 42 4.3.2 Sex of the Respondents ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 43 4.3.3 Number of Persons in a Household….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 44 4.3.4 Types of Crops Grown ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 45 4.3.5 Farm Sizes ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 45 4.3.6 Types of Inputs Employed ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 46 4.3.7 Source of Labour ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 46 4.3.8 Source of Finance ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 47 4.3.9 Post-harvest Processing of Farm Produce…..….. ….. ….. ….. 48 4.3.10 Impact of the Extension Services Provided to the Farmers….. ….. 48 4.4 Nature of the Extension Services….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 49 4.4.1 Types of Extension Services Provided ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 49 4.4.2 The Mode and Period of Meeting ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 51 4.4.3 Extension Services through Non-visits….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 51 4.5 Logistical and Institutional Capacity….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 52 4.5.1 Logistical Capacity ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 52 4.5.2 Institutional Capacity ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 54 4.6 Agricultural Information Dissemination ….. ….. ….. ….. 56 4.6.1 Methods of Agricultural Technology Transfer ….. ….. ….. 56 4.6.2 Approaches for Technology Dissemination ….. ….. ….. 57 4.7 Feedback Mechanisms ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 59 viii CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 60 5.1 Introduction ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 60 5.2 Summary of Key Findings ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 60 5.2.1 Nature of the Extension Services….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 60 5.2.2 Logistical and Institutional Arrangements….. ….. ….. ….. 61 5.2.3 Modes of Agricultural Information Dissemination….. ….. ….. 62 5.2.4 Feedback Mechanism ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 62 5.3 Recommendations ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 63 5.3.1 Short-term and Institutional ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 63 5.3.2 Long-term and Policy Interventions and Directions ….. ….. ….. 65 5.4 Conclusion ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 66 References ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 67 Appendix ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 69 ix LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1 Key Data Sources ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 30 Table 3.2 Sample Frame and Sample Size….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 34 Table 4.1 Average Yield per Hectare (2009) ….. ….. ….. ….. 40 Table 4.2 Educational Levels of the Farmers….. ….. ….. ….. 43 Table 4.3 Number of Persons in the Households ….. ….. ….. ….. 44 Table 4.4 Farm Sizes of Farmers….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 45 Table 4.5 Sources of Finance ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 47 Table 4.6 Post Harvest Processing and Storage of Farm Produce ….. 48 Table 4.7 Outputs of Maize and Rice before and after Extension Services 48 Table 4.8 Types of Extension Services Provided ….. ….. ….. ….. 50 Table 4.9 Required and Available Logistics and their Variances ….. 53 Table 4.10 Estimated and Available Field Staffs ….. ….. ….. ….. 54 Table 4.11 Methods Used by the AEAs….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 57 Table 4.12 Feedback Mechanisms Used by AEAs….. ….. ….. ….. 59 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Organizational Structure of Extension Services Delivery in Ghana ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 10 Figure 2.2 Impacts of Extension Services on Rural Poverty Reduction - a Conceptual Framework ….. ….. ….. 21 Figure 3.1: The Research Process- a Conceptual Framework ….. ….. 36 Figure 4.1: National Map showing the selected Districts in Regional and National Context ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 39 Figure 4.2: Gender of the Respondents….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 44 Figure 4.3: Sources of Labour ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 46 Figure 4.4: Extension Services through Non-Visits ….. ….. ….. ….. 51 Figure 4.5: Approaches Used by AEAs ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. 58 x x LIST OF ACRONYMS AEAs - Agricultural Extension Agents AGSSIP- Agricultural Services Sub-sector Investment Programme AKAP- Awareness, Knowledge, Adoption and Productivity ASDF- Agricultural Sector Development Fund CBOs- Community Based Organizations CFs- Contact Farmers CSIR- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research CSOs- Civil Society Organizations DAES- Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services DAO- District Agricultural Officer DDA- District Director of Agriculture DPCU- District Planning Coordinating Unit EFS- Extension Field Staff FBOs- Farmer Based Organizations FAO- Food and Agriculture Organization FFC- Fauji Fertilizer Company FFS- Farmer Field School GDP- Gross Domestic Product GTZ- German Technical Co-operation ISSER- Institute of Statistics, Social and Economic Research IPM- Integrated Pests Management IGF- Internally Generated Fund MOAP- Market-Oriented Agriculture Programme MoFA- Ministry of Food and Agriculture MoFEP- Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning NAEP- National Agricultural Extension Programme NDPC- National Development Planning Commission NGOs- Non-Governmental Organizations PEA- Participatory Extension Approach PTD&E- Participatory Technology Development & Extension RAED- Regional Agricultural Extension Director RAO- Regional Agricultural Officer RDA- Regional Director of Agriculture xi