Adoption of Good Agronomic Practices by Tomato Farmers in Rural Ghana: An Application of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

Abstract

This study uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework to analyze tomato farmers' intention and actual use of good agronomic practices (GAPs). Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 300 tomato farmers selected through the multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results reveal the three practices with the highest level of awareness: fertilizer application, weed control, and pest control. The GAPs practiced mostly by the tomato farmers are fertilizer application, row planting, disease control, and weed control. Results of the Tobit regression model show the extent (intention and actual use) of adoption of GAPs by tomato farmers is influenced by the age of the farmer, years spent in school, years in farming, sources of information, membership of farmer groups, availability of market, performance expectation, and social influence. The results from the study also show that among the major challenges affecting the use of GAPs, lack of credit facilities was ranked first. This study recommends that with the aid of Agricultural Extension Agents, farmers should form cooperatives to enable them to get access to financial support and enable extension workers to easily have access to them.

Improved nursery practices and farmers’ willingness to adopt heat-tolerant tomatoes under tropical conditions

“…Typically, farmers who have attained more years of formal schooling tend to be aware and better appreciate the importance and benefits of heat-tolerant varieties in reducing the impacts of climate variability and are more willingly to adopt such varieties. Similar studies have found a positive effect of education with the adoption of improved nursery practices on tomato production (Al-Shadiadeh et al, 2012;Frimpong et al, 2021;Akomdo et al, 2023).…”

“…The positive effect of extension on willingness to adopt heattolerant varieties implies that with increased visits by extension agents, farmers are able to receive extension advice, information, and technical support and also are able to participate in extension-related activities which enhance their willingness to adopt heat-tolerant varieties (Al-Shadiadeh et al, 2012;Akomdo , 2023). Smaller number of plots are a strategy adopted by smallholder tomato farmers for reducing the risk of crop losses from various sources such as climate variability, enhancing their likelihood of adopting heat-tolerant tomato varieties (Martey et al, 2012).…”

“…Studies have examined the adoption of improved production practices (Asante et al, 2013;Huat et al, 2013;Masood et al, 2018;Frimpong et al, 2021;Gotame et al, 2021;Nkansah et al, 2021;Shrestha et al, 2021;Iqbal et al, 2022;Akomdo et al, 2023). Most of these studies focused on the agronomic effects (Masood et al, 2018;Gotame et al, 2021;Shrestha et al, 2021;Iqbal et al, 2022), while others investigated such adoption decisions under different production settings.…”