Abstract
The paper investigated farm information systems use among grasscutter farmers in Ga-South and Awutu-Senya District in Ghana. Using frequency, cross tabulations and binary logit model in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18, the study made some findings. Grasscutter farmers in the study area are ageing. They operate on small scale with males dominating the enterprise. The generally literate farmers used production records mostly. Farmers’ use of farm information systems did not show positive association with obtaining credit from formal credit institutions. The use of books and loose sheets to keep records of farm operations is most popular with the farmers. Use of computers is least popular. Too much work, no reasons for non-use, and inadequate time at their disposal to spare some for recording were some of the reasons adduced for not using farm information systems. Age, level of education, farm size, and farmer status, membership of association, sex, experience and income were found to be independent of farm information systems use. Government and non-governmental organisations must encourage young persons especially females to engage in the enterprise. An investigation into the causes of low farm size will unearth the causes and as such provide ways to increase farm size as most of the farmers are into full time grasscutter rearing. Members of grasscutter farmers association need to step up their membership drive to recruit more farmers into the association as associations are better to relate to and reach with extension effort.
Highlights
1.1 BackgroundThe need for, use and benefits of information for farm decision making has engaged the attention of farmers, researchers and policymakers over the years
Where Li is the log odds ratio, Pi is the probability of using farm information system, A is age, E. is highest level of education of farmer, FS is whether the farmer is into Grasscutter rearing full time or part time and FSt is farm size represented by the number of animals the farmer holds
The reasons assigned by non-users of farm information system are too much work, no reason for non-use, inadequate time at their disposal to spare some for recording and no need to record since operations are not regular as in poultry rearing (Table 12)
Summary
The need for, use and benefits of information for farm decision making has engaged the attention of farmers, researchers and policymakers over the years. The ‘system’ about information relates to the connection or integration of components of collection, processing, storage, and distribution of information to support decision-making (Laudon & Laudon 2002) By extension of this non-farm definition, farm information systems (FIS), can be appreciated as a tool to assist farms in forward planning, risk management, and control (Adams, 2009) by the use of information (Doye, et al, 2000). Households in parts of Ghana engage in grasscutter rearing as full time engagement as well as supplemental income (Heull-Rolf, 2002; Wontewe, 2002; Adekoya, 2007), and Ga-South Municipality and Awutu-Senya District are no exception. Ga-South is one of the recent municipalities designated by the government of Ghana It shares its eastern boundary with the metropolitan area of Accra, the capital of Ghana. Grasscutter farming is one of the farming occupations that engage the attention of some households
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