Factors Affecting the Adoption of Wildfire Management Technology in Ghana

Abstract

This study evaluates the factors that influence and limit the development of fire belts, a fire management technique used by Ghanaian farmers. We obtained primary data from three hundred farmers. Kendall's coefficient of concordance and the logit model were used. Awareness of fire belt creation as fire management technology was high, with a generally positive perception of fire belt creation. This methodology, however, was adopted by less than half of the farmers. Age, gender, marital status, type of crop grown by the farmer, access to community fire volunteers, FBO membership, awareness of technology, cost of technology, and ease of technology use are the factors that determine the incidence of adoption of fire belt creation. Major constraints in adoption include limited access to information, unavailability of assistance from GNFS, initial investment cost, illiteracy, unwillingness to adopt the technology, culture and traditions, time-consuming and difficulty in technology use and risk and uncertainty about the technological application. To improve the uptake of fire belt creation there is the need to form and strengthen community fire volunteers and group dynamics (FBOs) at the community level as it promises to promote fire belt creation as fire management technology and hence reduce wildfire risk in the communities.