The Economic Implications Of The Introduction Of Improved Methods For Maize: A Study In The Mampong District.

Objective of Study The study was motivated by the Ghana Government's proposal for an integrated crop improvement project for maize. The project seeks to promote the use of 'improved methods' of cultivating maize in selected centres of maize production in the country with the aim of increasing annual maize production by approximately 50,000 long tons over the next five years. It is hoped that the target would be achieved primarily through increasing yields on at least 100,000 acres of the approximately 537,000 acres annually devoted to maize during the major farming season. The project will embrace an integrated programme of research, field trials, extension, distribution of yieldincreasing package of inputs, credit and improvement of storage techniques and marketing facilities to serve approximately 30,000 small holders in five of the nine regions of the country. ' Improved methods' are technically advanced methods recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. These include the use of new improved seeds and fertilizer, early planting, row planting, close spacing and early weeding. 1 The objectives of the study fall under two main headings, namely: (1) To evaluate improved methods of maize cultivation in relation to the traditional system; (2) To assess the economic implications of the use of inproved methods for the farmer.