Assessing the Determinants of Adoption of Improved Cassava Varieties among Farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study has examined the adoption of improved cassava varieties among 350 cassava farmers in the Sekyere
South District of Ashanti region, Ghana. The improved cassava varieties introduced into district were Bankye
Hemaa, Esam Bankye and Bankye Afisiafi. Fifteen percent of the respondents adopted at least one of the improved
cassava varieties and 85 percent been non adopters. The determinants of adoption were estimated with probit model.
The results of the probit model showed that extension services, credit access, education, marital status, farmer based
organization, and household size have significant positive effect on the probability of farmers to adopt improved
cassava varieties. The study showed that in order to enhance adoption of improved cassava varieties, extension
services should be intensified, farmers should form or join groups; farmers should also register with the credit union in the district to have access to credit. Policy makers and crop breeders should come out with varieties that best suit
farmers’ objectives.