IMPACT OF CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ON SMALLHOLDER INCOME AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

Technology adoption has been low in developing countries due to the cost, but also because people prefer to wait and observe the benefits and risks before adopting. For the most part, Conservation Agriculture Technologies (CAT) are noted for promoting sustainable agriculture by preserving the soil and also mitigating climate change effects. For this reason, CA technology has gained global recognition and recommendations for increasing farm productivity and has the potential to help in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals 1, 2, 12 and 13. Yet empirical studies examining the impact of CA technologies on the livelihood outcomes of smallholder farmers are limited despite the policy relevance of such studies in Africa. This study therefore examines the factors that could account for the adoption of CA technologies and its potential impact on the incomes and food security of smallholder farmers in the Upper East region of Ghana. The study used cross-sectional data from 471 farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The data analysis was done using the multinomial endogenous switching regression with selectivity correction. The results showed that variables such as farm distance, plot size, credit access, durable assets, household size, CAT training, and distance to the district MoFA offices have a significant impact on smallholder adoption decisions. The results suggest that farmers who adopt single practices tend to experience low incomes. For those who adopted only zero tillage (Z1R0C0), only crop rotation (Z0R1C0), and cover cropping only (Z0R0C1), incomes dropped significantly per hectare respectively for all single adoption. However, the adoption of multiple practices showed an average decrease in household income for (Z1R1C0) and (Z0R1C1) compared to the single adoption. Results for (Z1R0C1) paired reveal increased income per hectare. In terms of food security, the results show that adoption of both single and multiple practices increases the dietary diversity of score households. Results of Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) reveal an increase in annual farm household income per hectare as well as increased dietary diversity score points for (Z1R1C1) respectively relative to non-adopters. The study recommends the adoption of multiple conservation practices as it increases the returns to adoption in terms of income and food diversity. Policymakers must therefore retool the district Extension agents to intensify the campaign on conservation agricultural practices to ensure that farmers adopt multiple packages that promote sustainability, food safety, and long-term overall benefits to the farmer and society.