Diffusion of climate-resilient seeds and information: evidence from semi-arid regions of Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines the drivers of climate-resilient seeds adoption among farm households and their corresponding spatial effects on farmers' neighbours adoption decisions in the semi-arid regions of Ghana, where the impacts of climate change on agriculture are marked. A spatial model was applied to a dataset elicited from farm households in addressing the research objective. The findings indicate the presence of peer or neighbourhood effects in the adoption and diffusion process . The findings also reveal that the socio-economic characteristics of the farm households, plot characteristics, drought condition and the source of information about the climate-resilient seeds influence farmers’ adoption and information diffusion. Finally, the findings imply that drought condition and information from model farmers generate the highest spatial spillover effects on farmers’ neighbours decisions to adopt.