Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Agricultural extension and its effects on farm productivity and income: insight from Northern Ghana |
| Authors: |
Gideon Danso-Abbeam, Dennis Sedem Ehiakpor, Robert Aidoo |
| Source: |
Agriculture & Food Security, Vol 7, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2018) |
| Publisher Information: |
BMC, 2018. |
| Publication Year: |
2018 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Agriculture
LCC:Nutrition. Foods and food supply |
| Subject Terms: |
Agricultural extension, ACDEP, Heckman treatment effect, Productivity, Regression on propensity scores, Agriculture, Nutrition. Foods and food supply, TX341-641 |
| More Details: |
Abstract Background In agricultural-dependent economies, extension programmes have been the main conduit for disseminating information on farm technologies, support rural adult learning and assist farmers in developing their farm technical and managerial skills. It is expected that extension programmes will help increase farm productivity, farm revenue, reduce poverty and minimize food insecurity. In this study, we estimate the effects of extension services on farm productivity and income with particular reference to agricultural extension services delivered by Association of Church-based Development NGOs (ACDEP). Methods The study used cross-sectional data collected from 200 farm households from two districts in the Northern region of Ghana. The robustness of the estimates was tested by the use of regression on covariates, regression on propensity scores and Heckman treatment effect model. Results The study found positive economic gains from participating in the ACDEP agricultural extension programmes. Apart from the primary variable of interest (ACDEP agricultural extension programme), socio-economic, institutional and farm-specific variables were estimated to significantly affect farmers’ farm income depending on the estimation technique used. Conclusions The study has reaffirmed the critical role of extension programmes in enhancing farm productivity and household income. It is, therefore, recommended that agricultural extension service delivery should be boosted through timely recruitment, periodic training of agents and provision of adequate logistics. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2048-7010 |
| Relation: |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40066-018-0225-x; https://doaj.org/toc/2048-7010 |
| DOI: |
10.1186/s40066-018-0225-x |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/346a27d0b3454fedb3c834cf1a387959 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.346a27d0b3454fedb3c834cf1a387959 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |
