Analyst urges Ghana to boost farm extension services
Dr Joseph Opoku Gakpo says stronger support for agricultural extension personnel is essential to improving food security and farmer innovation.
Agricultural analyst Dr Joseph Opoku Gakpo has called on the Ghanaian government to prioritize agricultural extension services, stating that enhanced support for these personnel is crucial for helping farmers adopt new technologies and ultimately improving national food security. He emphasized that investments in agricultural research will yield limited benefits if farmers do not receive clear communication about innovations and cannot implement them effectively.
Dr Gakpo highlighted that effective extension services act as a vital link between research institutions and farming practices. He noted that without adequate investment in extension personnel and their supporting systems, innovations developed in universities and research centers may not reach the farmers who need them. This gap limits the potential benefits of agricultural research investments, hindering the adoption of practices like regenerative farming or improved post-harvest techniques.
The analyst stressed that extension workers require not only technical knowledge in areas such as crop and livestock production, soil health, and pest management but also strong communication and interpersonal skills. Building trust with farmers is paramount for the successful introduction of new technologies, as demonstrated by research co-authored by Dr Gakpo, which identified trust as a key factor in technology acceptance among Ghanaian farmers.
Why it mattersGhanaian farmers are affected because they may not receive the necessary information and support to adopt new farming innovations, which could improve their yields and food production.