Sources of agricultural extension information and farmers’ willingness to pay for the information: Evidence from small-scale pineapple farmers in south-eastern Ghana

Abstract

This paper examines sources, preferred format and language of agricultural extension information and the willingness of pineapple farmers to pay for the information. It is based on analysis of data collected using the structured interview schedule method administered on 132 small-scale pineapple farmers randomly selected from 14 communities in the Akuapem South District of south-eastern Ghana. Agricultural extension agents (96.7%), cooperative societies (83.3%), colleague farmers (70%) and platforms offered by workshops and training sessions (63.3%) were identified as predominant sources of agricultural extension information. Besides, the study showed that 40.9% of farmers were willing to pay for such services, with 28.8% expressing their unwillingness. The results of a chi-square analysis showed a significant relationship between pineapple farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural extension information with respect to sex, age, educational level, household size, years of experience, farm size, and position in the society. However, marital status and membership of cooperative societies of pineapple farmers were not significant (at ρ ≤ 0.05) and therefore did not affect the pineapple farmers’ willingness to pay for such services. The paper makes a strong case for policy direction that deepens private sector participation and supports a more balanced public-private-partnership arrangement for extension delivery. This may stimulate pluralistic extension delivery, introduce a lot more diversity and enhance farmer acceptance of the need to invest in extension information. This study represents the first-ever study in Ghana on willingness to pay for extension information that focuses exclusively on producers of a horticultural commodity (small-scale pineapple farmers) with their distinguishing characteristic features.