The Influence of Farmer-To-Farmer Communication on Access to Agricultural Extension Services in the Garu-Tempane District

Abstract

Information is a key resource for agricultural and rural development. Farmers require agricultural extension services to improve their agricultural productivity. However, this does not appear to happen as agricultural extension is constraint with limited number of agricultural extension agents, inadequate logistics for extension agents and late release of funds for extension activities. To contribute to improving agricultural extension services, this study seeks to determine the influence of farmer-to-farmer communication on access to agricultural information in the Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. It employed survey method and primary data was obtained by administering questionnaires to farmers through multi-stage sampling technique of 120 respondents in 10 communities. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 20) software for the analysis, Chi-Square test, percentages, frequencies and charts were tools used to generate the results. The study showed that farmers share agricultural information and technologies in their homes, on-farm and group meetings. The study also observed that farmers belong to indigenous community communication networks such as religious groups, farmer groups, kinship groups and cultural groups. Farmers employ one-to-one, group meetings and radio as the main communication channels. The study show 51.7% of respondents visit colleague farmers once in a week and 2.5% of respondents seldom visit colleague farmers for agricultural information. There is general timeliness in technology delivery among farmers; 82.5% of respondents receive crop management technologies timely and 60.0% of respondents received animal health care technologies timely. The study reveals that more women would potentially be reached with extension messages in FtF communication. It is recommended that extension delivery to farmers should adopt strategies of engaging community indigenous communication networks and forming radio listening groups to enhance access to extension services.