Innovation development and transfer by agricultural development agencies: a case study of cowpea IPM in northern Ghana

Abstract

This paper draws on data collected during 12 months of fieldwork in Northern Ghana. The fieldwork researched two communities in two districts of Northern Ghana and three Agricultural Development Agencies (ADA); Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and World Vision Ghana (WVG). Data collection was achieved through formal surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and observations. A total of 120 individual interviews were conducted for the formal survey guided by the questionnaire. Thirty individual questionnaire- 10 each- were administered to the three ADA–SARI, WVG, and MOFA. Again documentation of activities from the three ADA was gathered. While 275 community members made up of both male and female farmers, elders and traders were involved in five FGD Workshops. This paper focuses on ADAs and innovation development, diffusion and adoption in agriculture and the impact thereof on men and women in increasing agricultural productivity. It further focuses on how agricultural policies influence the processes of innovation development, diffusion and transfer. Results indicate that targeting and getting farmers involved at an early stage in innovation development and transfer is important for any agricultural development programmes and for adoption. Indications were that imbalances in the delivery of extension services had negative impacts on making available appropriate innovations, especially to women farmers. Thus monitoring and evaluation aid the direction of agricultural policies and improve on innovation development and transfer techniques. Again, successful innovation development, transfer and high rates of adoption are the result of good collaborative work; a product of good research planning, monitoring and evaluation and information sharing.

Keywords: change agent, extension, agricultural productivity, agricultural policies