Social norms perspective of agriculture technology adoption and welfare in Ghana: Extending multinomial endogenous treatment effect model

Abstract

The development of agriculture and improving farmers’ welfare help focus the attention of researchers towards the adoption of individual and combined technology choices which focus on socio-economic and plot features. This paper used current data (2019) from rice farmers in Northern Ghana to extend multinomial endogenous treatment effect model which control selection bias to culture and religion. The research examined predictors of improved rice developed domestically, foreign improved rice varieties and the joint of the two kinds, and how each alternative impact the welfare of farmers (rice yield, per capita income, consumption expenditure and total assets). Our empirical findings show that the adoption of any alternative makes farmers better-off relative to non-adoption. Also, adopters in Guan and Christian faith have higher gains relative to their counter-part cultural and religious units. This paper recommends the importance of including cultural and religious values in technology sensitisation programmes and intense collaboration of crucial stakeholders to offer farmers alternatives to choices.