Prospects of Using Improved Intermediate Means of Transport in Ghanaian Agriculture: A Survey

Abstract

ABSTRACT In recognition of the vital role of agriculture in Ghana's economy, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture initiated the Rural Transport Infrastructure Project, with a key objective to promote use of Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT), especially donkey-drawn carts, bicycle-trailers and power tillers, among rural farming communities. A survey was conducted to understand and document the socio-economic characteristics of selected rural farming communities regarding the adoption and diffusion of the three IMT technologies as part of the pilot phase of the project. The survey covered the main agro-ecological areas of the country, which are the transition, forest, coastal and Guinea savanna zones. Two findings did not support the conventional thinking among policymakers. First, women managed fewer but larger individual farms (2.11 ha on average) compared to men (1.38 ha on average), although the aggregate of farmfields were generally larger for men. Second, mono-cropping (as opposed to inter-cropping) systems dominated the farming systems in all four agro-ecological zones. Very few farmers had previous experience using the power tiller (7%), donkey-drawn cart (3%), and bicycle trailer (2%). The majority of farmers (61%) preferred co-operative or some form of farmers' association, as opposed to individual, ownership and management of the technologies. Although there were no reported cultural barriers to adoption of the IMT, lack of capital, poor road network, and inadequate knowledge about equipment maintenance were important limitations. Among the three IMT, the power tiller was the most preferred in all four agro-ecological zones. Although the high level of involvement of females in many farm operations, particularly in weeding, and transportation and sale of farm produce is no novel finding, its implications regarding special considerations in policy and in promoting the technologies, especially to female farmers, is one contribution of this study. Specifically, the IMT technology delivery service should not only be sensitized and communicated to both male and female farmers, but the new innovations, prices, farmers' meetings and workshops, and the special constraints facing female farmers should be included in outreach programs.