Abstract
This paper examines the impact of participation in Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project on farm efficiency and income of soybean farmers in Northern Region of Ghana. Due to the exogenous and non-random assignment of the intervention, propensity score matching analysis was used to estimate impact on a cross-section of 200 smallholder farmers. Participation in farmer mentorship project impacts positively on farm technical efficiency by 28 percent. However, participation did not significantly translate into higher farm income. This finding suggests that exposing farmers to agricultural development projects may directly increase their technical capability wtihtin the short term but does not guarantee higher income. The design of any agricultural development project must incorporate the specific needs of farmers to ensure ownership, increased participation and sustainability.
Highlights
Northern Region accounts for 40 percent of agricultural land in Ghana with high potential of being an agricultural hub described as the bread basket of Ghana (MoFA, 2010)
This paper examines the impact of participation in Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project on farm efficiency and income of soybean farmers in Northern Region of Ghana
Conclusion cannot be made with regard to the causal effect of participation in Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP) on technical efficiency and farm income
Summary
Northern Region accounts for 40 percent of agricultural land in Ghana with high potential of being an agricultural hub described as the bread basket of Ghana (MoFA, 2010). Agricultural productivity in the region is low as a result of myriad of biotic and abiotic constraints, including low use of improved seeds, poor soil health, inadequate soil amendments, poor crop management practices, inadequate extension services, weak research-extension linkages, inadequate access to cultivation equipment, limited access to credit among others (MoFA, 2010). In addressing some of the major agricultural challenges in the Northern Region of Ghana, the Agricultural Value Chain Mentorship Project (AVCMP) was approved by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Several improved agricultural technologies and practices were extended to farmers including mentoring sessions on group animation, capacity building on entrepreneurship, linking of farmers to inputs and services, airing of radio programs, videos shows, on-stage drama, and distribution of print materials and establishment of on-farm demonstrations
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