Dissemination of Information on Genetically Modified Crop Technology to Farmers: A Case Study of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology’s Educational Campaign in the Ga South Municipali

ABSTRACT 

The government of Ghana has begun processes to introduce Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) into the country’s food chain despite opposition by some civil society groups. In 2011, parliament passed the Biosafety Act, 2011 to permit the testing, production and commercialisation of GM crops in the country. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is undertaking confined field trials of some GM foods as part of approval procedures before government will give the green light for the local production of GM foods. The council has also rolled out an educational campaign under the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Project to educate farmers on the technology. Several other educational campaigns are ongoing through both mass media and inter personal means to sensitise farmers on the technology. This study in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra region sought to find out how information on GM foods is disseminated among farmers there. The study investigated farmers’ knowledge on GM foods, their opinions in relation to the economic, health and environmental outcomes of GM foods, as well as their sources of information on the technology. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Two Step Flow Theory were the theoretical frameworks that guided the work. The study surveyed 120 farmers. The findings suggest farmers have low level of knowledge on GM foods. Majority of the farmers also believe GM foods are bad and will damage the environment and human health. The study also found that radio is farmers’ most dominant source of information on GM foods. Interestingly although the farmers acknowledge GM foods have the potential to increase yield and productivity on the farm, majority of them said they are not ready to grow GM seeds on their farms. The study recommended that OFAB adopts more use of the mass media particularly community radio stations in communicating with farmers, and strengthen their interpersonal campaign.