Drivers of adoption intensity of pond aquaculture: The case of Ghana

Abstract

Ponds contribute just about 7% to Ghana’s total aquaculture production. This is partly attributable to low rate of adoption, small holdings and low adoption intensity. Thus, this study generates empirical data on determinants of pond aquaculture adoption intensity among farmers in the study area. A total of 356 respondents were selected from five regions of Ghana using multi-stage sampling. A Two-Stage Heckman regression revealed that adoption and intensity of adoption are positively influenced by gender, extension service, membership of farmer-based group, knowledge of pond aquaculture, fish price and freehold land while the transition ecological zone of Ghana showed a negative relationship with both adoption and intensity (farm size). A Poisson regression showed that adoption intensity (by number of management innovations) is significantly and positively influenced by education, income, extension service, membership of a farmer group, labour and total pond area but negatively correlated with household size and distance from farm to nearest commercial town. The average adoption level of management innovations is 50% with water quality management innovations being the least adopted. We recommend policy interventions to facilitate: increased extension contacts (especially in the transition zone of Ghana); promotion of pond farmers associations; adoption of more management innovations; institutional support in the areas of awareness, capacity building, financing (e.g. “smart subsidies”), and easy access to suitable land and inputs to accelerate the participation of more women and the youth in pond aquaculture.