Browsing by Author "Tsinigo, Edward"

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    Economics of technological change in rice production in the Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin Districts, Ghana
    (2014-07-20) Tsinigo, Edward
    Globally, technological change in rice production has ushered in an era of agricultural transformation and has increased economic incentives for farmers. However, such gains appear to be unevenly distributed among farmers. This study, therefore, examined the economics of technological change in rice production in the Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin Districts of Ghana. Specifically, the study established whether the improved variety increases the cost of production and returns than did the traditional variety. It also evaluated the nature and magnitude of rice productivity due to the shift from the traditional to the improved rice varieties. Further, the study isolated the sources of productivity differences between the two varieties. The study was largely descriptive using the survey method. The study sampled 208 rice farmers from the two districts using a three-stage stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and an interview guide. The independent samples t-tests, Cobb-Douglas production, and a modified output decomposition analyses techniques were used to analyse the data. The study found that the per hectare cost of production, gross returns, and gross margin of the improved variety were statistically higher, compared to the traditional variety. Second, the magnitude of the impact of the improved variety on rice productivity was 47%. The nature of such productivity increase was largely of the non-neutral type. Third, the estimated productivity difference between the two varieties was 39%, of which a greater share (46%) was contributed by the differences in technology. However, the differences in input use level contributed negatively (-6%) to the productivity difference between the two varieties. Among technical change, non-neutral technical change contributed the greatest share of 45% while neutral technical change contributed about 1%. Finally, the study found that rice farmers who used fertiliser and herbicide as well as accessed extension services and credit facilities were more likely to have higher yield gains than those who did not. The study, therefore, concludes that the technological change in rice production was largely non-neutral and had highly favoured adopters with higher economic incentives such as productivity and returns because they were resource-endowed. The study recommends that technology promotion activities must be integrated with effective input supply and credit systems. Further, mechanised technologies should be developed to reduce the overreliance on manual labour