Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies Among Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana

Abstract

In recent years, the effects of climate change on agriculture in northern Ghana have attracted the attention of researcher and policy makers. Stakeholders including research institutions have developed several climate-smart agricultural technologies aimed at reducing the negative effects of climate change on farmers. This study examined the factors influencing rice farmers’ adoption of these technologies using Multivariate Probit and Poisson regression models. Primary data were collected from 543 rice farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results revealed that the intensity of farmers’ adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies is positively influenced by farmers’ experience in rice cultivation, access to mass media, training, and perceived decrease in the amount of rainfall. On the other hand, farm size, the distance between farmers’ residence and farm sites, location and the observed increase in temperatures negatively influenced farmers’ intensity of adoption of the technologies. This study highlights the essential role of government regarding training of farmers and awareness creation for the adoption of the climate-smart agricultural technologies.