Farmers' Perceptions Of Ngo Interventions On Agriculture In Mfantsimanand Komenda-Edina-Eguafoabrem Municipalities Of The Central Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT

Agricultural production by farmers continues to face many challenges.

NGOs play an important role by assisting farmers to improve on their production

levels and livelihoods. The study was carried out using a descriptive-con-elational

survey design to examine farmers' perceptions of the effects ofNGO interventions

on agriculture in Mfantsiman and KEEA municipalities in the Central Region of

Ghana. Four NGOs provided services to the farmers.

The results showed that most of the farmers were at least 40 years old,

literate, engaged in crop production and cultivated 2 - Sha of land and had at-least

10 years of farming experience. The study showed that the interventions ofNGOs

improved the level of agriculture. NGO activities also produced significant

improvement in the yield, income, quality of produce, food security, weed control,

use of fertilizer/manure, land preparation, housing of animals, disease and pest

control, storage and preservation, processing and marketing. Generally, farmers'

livelihoods comprising their ability to afford school fees, health, good clothing,

decent house and more food were enhanced. The farmers in Mfantsiman

Municipality perceived the effects of the interventions to be 'good' while those in

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"KEEA Municipality perceived it to be 'very good'. Both male and female fm111ers

perceived the effects of the interventions to be 'good'. The working relationship

between fanners and NGOs wer~ perceived to be 'very good'. The study

recommends that: 1) NGOs should give farmers adequate credit support. 2) Inputs

should be made available and affordable by the government, relevant agencies and

NGOs.