Determinants of Access to Agricultural Extension Services: Evidence from Smallholder Rural Women in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Aims: To provide empirical evidence on the determinants of access to extension services in Northern Ghana. Study Design: Cross sectional. Place and Duration of Study: Kumbungu and Sagnarigu Districts of the Northern region; Builsa North and Pusiga Districts of the Upper East; Wa West and Jirapa-Lambussie Districts of the Upper West and Tain and Nkoranza South Districts of the Brong Ahafo regions. The study was conducted in thew 2012/2013 cropping season[F1] . Methodology: We employ a logistic regression model on a data from 320 women which was obtained by multi-stage sampling procedure. Results: Our results show that the major determinants of extension access include the square of age, farm size, group membership, time spent on the farm and access to fertilizer. Conclusion: Our results thus, confirmed the importance of the personal and household attributes, farm/plot characteristics, socio-economic and institutional factors in accessing extension services. We therefore call for formation of women’s groups to improve their access to extension services.