What are Smallholder Farmers using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for? evidence from South-Western Ghana

2026-07-31T23:30:27+00:00

This study examines the critical issue of what smallholder farmers in south-western Ghana use ICT tools for, to promote their farming activities. A mixed method approach was adopted, using interviews and questionnaires to collect data from a total of 177 farmers across south-western Ghana. The findings showed that while mobile phones were the most widely used ICT tool among farmers (94%), their use was largely limited to basic communication and mobile money transactions. Few farmers also utilised mobile phones and other digital tools for agricultural-specific information such as weather updates, pest control, and market prices. The use of emails, fixed phones and tablets remained relatively low (less than 50%) due to limited access to internet facility, unreliable network services, and high data costs. Traditional media such as radio were noted to have positive impacts on farming. From a demographic perspective, the youth were the majority users of ICT tools, attributed to the generational gap in ICT literacy. Gender disparities in terms of access were also noted, with male farmers having greater access to ICT tools than females, mostly associated with socio-economic constraints. Lack of technical knowledge, limited access to ICT infrastructure and the absence of tailored digital content in local languages were identified as key challenges working against the adoption of ICT tools. This paper therefore makes a strong case for sustained investments in digital infrastructure and capacity building programmes focused on ICT literacy and policy framework that supports inclusive access to digital agricultural services.

Impact of improved yam varieties adoption on farmers’ incomes and productivity in Eastern and Bono Regions, Ghana

2026-08-01T00:10:55+00:00

This study commissioned by the Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) Program examines the adoption of improved yam varieties and the associated impacts on productivity and the welfare of smallholder farmer in the Eastern and Bono East regions of Ghana. It addresses three key questions: (i) What is the extent of cultivation of improved yam varieties in the Ayensuano and Atebubu-Amantin Districts? (ii) what are the main constraints to yam production, and (iii) What are the impacts of adoption on yields and incomes of smallholder farmers in the study areas. Data were collected from 240 yam farmers across 12 yam producing communities using questionnaires and structured interviews, and analysed employing propensity score matching technique to control for selection bias. Findings reveal a 24% adoption rate of improved yam varieties. Production challenges identified include limited access to improved planting materials, high input costs, lack of access to credit and sales difficulty during glut. Adoption is significantly influenced by factors such as education, association membership, market nearness, farm size, and residency, with smallholders particularly inclined to adopt improved yam varieties due to yield advantages. While adoption increased yields by approximately 4.6 tonnes per hectare, it paradoxically decreased farmer incomes by about Ghc 55.00. The study underscores the need for government and private sector interventions to develop balanced, demand-driven agrifood systems to enhance farmer welfare. Through the lens of improved yam cultivation, this research seeks to contribute to efforts aimed at enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ghana.

Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science

What are Smallholder Farmers using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for? evidence from South-Western Ghana

Impact of improved yam varieties adoption on farmers’ incomes and productivity in Eastern and Bono Regions, Ghana