Adoption Of Improved Cowpea Preservation Technologies In The Akatsi District Of The Volta Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT Enhancing the adoption of Improved Cowpea Preservation Technologies (ICPTs) can contribute greatly to food security in low- income countries such as Ghana. However, although such improved technologies have been the focus of technology development and extension effort for sometime now in Ghana, there is a dearth of studies on the extent of adoption of ICPTs and its determinants. Among others, current adoption of technology literature suggests that target or potential user’s perceptions of technologies are likely to influence adoption. However, this paradigm has not been studied in Ghana for ICPTs. This thesis therefore examined the relationship between cowpea farmers’ and traders perceptions and the adoption of ICPTs in the Akatsi district of the Volta Region, Ghana. Specifically, it attempts to answer the question - how does their perceptions of characteristics of four ICPTs (namely the use Actellic liquid, Actellic dust, Phostoxin and edible oil in preserving cowpea), mode and effort of extension delivery, determine the pattern of utilization of ICPTs. Data was collected using questionnaires from sixty cowpea producers, twenty-five cowpea traders and fifteen Agricultural extension Agents (AEAs) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). In addition, the Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) methods for focus group discussions, was used to collect contextual information. Data analysis included frequency distribution, chi-square tests and the Spearman’s rank order correlation co-efficient. The results show that apart from respondents gender and the quantity of cowpea stored, there was statistically no significant difference between the characteristics of cowpea producers and traders. Cowpea producers were mainly males and the traders were solely females. Traders also stored more cowpea than producers did and they stored if for a longer period of time. Extension agents delivery efforts on the selected ICPTs was mainly by a combination of interpersonal (individual and group) methods and contact tended to be more frequent (thrice or more within a month). However, cowpea traders were contacted less frequently than producers. Traders are however more important with regards to preservation of cowpea than producers yet, they have little access to ICPT messages. It is therefore suggested that extension agents need to direct more cowpea preservation messages to traders. There was substantial knowledge of cowpea pests and their control in the study area. Comparatively, the level of awareness of traditional cowpea preservation technologies was higher than that of ICPTs. Level of awareness of ICPTs in descending order is similar - Actellic dust, Actellic liquid, Edible oil and Phostoxin (Producers - 52%, 37%, 35%, 21% and Traders - 48%, 32%, 24%, 16% respectively). The study established that Phostoxin had a higher range of positively perceived attributes by producers and traders and edible oil had the least. Analysis of the relationship between adopter characteristics and perception of attributes revealed that with the exception of Actellic liquid, these variables did not make a difference in perception of ICPTs. The extension method used did not bring about a difference in perception of overall attributes of ICPTs but made a difference in perception of general attributes (Relative Advantage and Complexity) of Actellic liquid. With the exception of Actellic liquid, the frequency of contact of AEAs with the respondents did not bring about any significant difference in perception of ICPTs. An increase in the frequency of contact of AEAs with the respondents resulted in more positive perception of attributes of Actellic liquid but not the other ICPTs.  There was a positive relationship between respondents positive perceptions of selected ICPTs and adoption levels. Producers’ perceptions of specific attributes gave the closest prediction of adoption levels whereas traders overall perceptions of attributes gave the closest prediction of adoption level. It shows that to an extent, perceptions of attributes reflect their adoption levels. It is suggested that AEAs need to re-examine and refine ICPTs, taking the negative perceptions of attributes of ICPTs and their inverse relationship with adoption levels into consideration. In order to enhance adoption of ICPTs, AEAs should deliver detailed technical knowledge, emphasising positive attributes. This can be done through regular contact (thrice or more within a month) and the use of interpersonal channels of extension delivery (use of a combination of the group and individual methods of extension delivery) for increased adoption of cowpea preservation technologies.