{"title":"Do outgrower schemes enhance technology adoption and productivity? Evidence from maize farmers in Northern Ghana","authors":"D. T. Konja, A. Abdulai","doi":"10.1002/agr.21967","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Nucleus outgrower schemes are contractual arrangements where well‐resourced large‐scale farmers (nucleus farmers) are empowered by development support agencies to take charge of smallholder farmers, by providing them with market access and the necessary training on agronomic practices and farm inputs for production. In this study, we examine the impact of participation in outgrower scheme on technology adoption and farm productivity, using data from 634 smallholder maize farmers in Northern Ghana. We use the linear regression with endogenous treatment effects model to account for both observable and unobservable selection bias. The results reveal positive and significant marginal effects of outgrower scheme participation on technology adoption and maize yields. Outgrower scheme participants applied 6% and 82% more inorganic fertilizer and weedicides, respectively, than nonparticipants. Maize yield increased by about 3% for the participants more than nonparticipants. The findings also show that factors such as distance to market, distance to nucleus farmers' satellite office, nucleus outgrower scheme awareness, input price, and farmer‐based organization significantly influence outgrower scheme participation decisions, as well as technology adoption and maize yields.","PeriodicalId":55544,"journal":{"name":"Agribusiness","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Agribusiness","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/agr.21967","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS & POLICY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Nucleus outgrower schemes are contractual arrangements where well‐resourced large‐scale farmers (nucleus farmers) are empowered by development support agencies to take charge of smallholder farmers, by providing them with market access and the necessary training on agronomic practices and farm inputs for production. In this study, we examine the impact of participation in outgrower scheme on technology adoption and farm productivity, using data from 634 smallholder maize farmers in Northern Ghana. We use the linear regression with endogenous treatment effects model to account for both observable and unobservable selection bias. The results reveal positive and significant marginal effects of outgrower scheme participation on technology adoption and maize yields. Outgrower scheme participants applied 6% and 82% more inorganic fertilizer and weedicides, respectively, than nonparticipants. Maize yield increased by about 3% for the participants more than nonparticipants. The findings also show that factors such as distance to market, distance to nucleus farmers' satellite office, nucleus outgrower scheme awareness, input price, and farmer‐based organization significantly influence outgrower scheme participation decisions, as well as technology adoption and maize yields.
期刊介绍:
Agribusiness: An International Journal publishes research that improves our understanding of how food systems work, how they are evolving, and how public and/or private actions affect the performance of the global agro-industrial complex. The journal focuses on the application of economic analysis to the organization and performance of firms and markets in industrial food systems. Subject matter areas include supply and demand analysis, industrial organization analysis, price and trade analysis, marketing, finance, and public policy analysis. International, cross-country comparative, and within-country studies are welcome. To facilitate research the journal’s Forum section, on an intermittent basis, offers commentary and reports on business policy issues.