Market information and maize commercialization in the Savannah and Northern regions of Ghana

Abstract

This study employed the Double Hurdle (DH) regression model to identify factors that influence access to market information, market participation and intensity of participation decisions of maize farmers in the Mion and West Gonja Districts of Ghana. The results showed that institutional, demography, and location dynamics significantly influence access to market information. The increased access to market information and extension service in turn enhance both the propensity and level of maize market participation decisions of farmers. In addition, availability of household marketable surplus leads to increased market participation decision while farmer experience accounts for the level to which a farmer participates in the market. The results suggest the need for strengthening the government extension systems and building farmer capacity as important tools in the commercialization of smallholder agriculture.

Keywords

• Double hurdle model
• Maize commercialization
• Market information
• Ghana