Stakeholders’ perception of private sector participation in agricultural extension delivery process in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

The government of Ghana has been the main provider of public agricultural extension services. The increasing inability of the government to adequately fund its agricultural extension activities has resulted in the search for alternative approaches to adequately meet the demands for agricultural extension services. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study surveyed the perceptions of stakeholders on the participation of private service providers in agricultural extension provision with farmers, agro input dealers and agriculturist with the purpose of facilitating improvement in farming and agricultural development in the Hohoe District of Ghana. In all, 100 farmers, 20 agriculturist, 13 input dealers and 3 others were respondents in the research. Findings from the study revealed that fifteen private extension providers exist alongside that of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in the district. The study also showed that farmers, to some extent, are willing to make some payments for agricultural extension services which are relevant to their farming needs. The study recommends among others that; (1) extension services need to shift from the existing supply-driven paradigm to one that is demand-driven; (2) there should be a gradual shift from public funded agricultural extension services while private sector participation is nurtured; and (3) there should be the development of synergy between MOFA and the private agricultural extension providers.