SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MODERN RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN GHANA

Many development economists have perceived introduction of new agricultural technologies as vital for improving agricultural productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, adoption and use of these technologies have not been a complete success due to slow adoption rates. In this paper, a socio-economic analysis of a recent technology introduced in Ghana is conducted to provide vital information for policy makers. Specifically, an average treatment effects framework is employed to simultaneously model adoption intensity and determinants, whiles correcting for exposure (awareness) bias. Also, the technology impacts on farm productivity and income are explored using an endogenous switching regression model. Using survey data on SDRP (sustainable development of rain-fed lowland rice production) adoption, the adoption intensity was estimated at 59%. Also, the empirical estimates show that land quality related factors and perception of technology characteristics drive farmers' adoption decisions. SDRP adoption was also found to impact positively on farm productivity and income.