Unlocking the potential of biofortified crops: economic determinants of orange flesh sweet potato adoption among smallholder farmers in Ghana

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam), the third most significant root and tuber crop globally, is crucial for improving livelihoods, health, and food security, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite its potential, sweet potato production in Ghana remains dominated by small-scale farmers, with yields often falling below the expected average of 2 tons per hectare. This study investigates the determinants and extent of adoption of Orange Flesh Sweet Potato (OFSP) varieties among smallholder farmers in the northeastern hills of Ghana. Utilizing cross-sectional data from 342 farmers across four districts in the Upper East and Northern regions, the Cragg double-hurdle model was used to analyze the factors influencing OFSP adoption. The results indicate that factors such as gender, family size, membership in Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), access to vines, training frequency, off-farm income, and farmers’ perceptions of early maturity and high yield potential significantly influence OFSP adoption. Furthermore, farm size, access to formal credit, market proximity, vine access, duration of OFSP consumption, regional differences, and yield levels were identified as key variables affecting the intensity of adoption. The study recommends that policymakers collaborate with banking and cooperative institutions to enhance access to vines and formal credit, thereby fostering higher adoption rates.

Keywords

• Adoption determinants
• Cragg double-hurdle
• food security
• Ghana agriculture
• orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
• smallholder farmers