Adoption of Zai technology for soil fertility management: evidence from Upper East region, Ghana

Gideon Danso-Abbeam,Dennis Sedem Ehiakpor,Gilbert Dagunga

doi:10.1186/s40008-019-0163-1

Gideon Danso-Abbeam, Dennis Sedem Ehiakpor + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-019-0163-1

Copy DOI

Abstract

Zai is a conventional soil rehabilitation management practice where organic matter is buried in a small pit to help restore fertility and conserve water in the soil. However, adoption of this environmentally-friendly technology is low. This study makes two key contributions. First, it identifies the determinants of adoption and intensity of adoption of Zai technology for soil fertility management. Second, it performs diagnostic tests to show that Cragg’s double-hurdle as compared to the Heckman and the standard Tobit regression models is the best econometric approach to identify factors influencing farmers’ decision to adopt and the extent of adoption of the Zai in the Upper East region, Ghana. Results from the Cragg’s double-hurdle model revealed that different set of variables affect the probability and the intensity of adoption of Zai technology. The paper concludes that farm households should be encouraged to engage in non-farm economic activities to complement their farm income and enhance the purchase of productive farm inputs. Moreover, farm-level policies oriented towards increasing access to agricultural extension services, credit facilities, and the facilitation of farmer groups are essential to improving the adoption of farm innovations such as the Zai technology.

Highlights

The World population is projected to be more than 9 billion by 2050, which is expected to increase the global food demand by 70% between 2005 and 2050 (Nazziwa-Nviiri et al 2017)
The results showed that sex had a positive and significant effect on the adoption and adoption intensity of Zai technology in the study area
4 Conclusions and recommendations The study has estimated the determinants of the probability of adoption and the extent of adoption of Zai technology using 400 farm households from Garu and Tempane districts of the Upper East region, Ghana

Summary

Introduction

The World population is projected to be more than 9 billion by 2050, which is expected to increase the global food demand by 70% between 2005 and 2050 (Nazziwa-Nviiri et al 2017). Most of these increases are expected to come from developing countries of which Ghana is no exception (United Nations 2011; Alexandratos and Bruinsma 2012). This situation would put upward pressure on agricultural land which is limited by the law of diminishing marginal returns.

Methods

Results

Conclusion