Ghana’s Research System

2013

English

Ghana’s agriculture sector accounts for 35 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly two thirds (60 percent) of the employment (Breisinger et al. 2011). Ghana is one of the top five performers in the world in terms of agricultural growth. Benefiting from favorable weather conditions, the world market prices for cocoa, and an abundance of arable land, its agricultural sector has been growing at an average annual rate of 5.1 percent over the past 25 years (ODI 2010). While agricultural production growth rates in Ghana have been impressive, these have come mainly from area expansion rather than yield increases. Gaps exist between current and achievable yields for various crops. By closing these yields gaps, agricultural productivity can be increased significantly. Tapping into the vast potential of Ghana to expand its agricultural production requires greater availability and wider use of existing knowledge (Nin‐Pratt et al. 2011). Technologies are needed to increase the productivity, stability, and resilience of sustainable production systems. At the same time, farmers find themselves in need of new uses of science and technology to mitigate and adapt to emerging challenges like climate change. Thus the generation, dissemination, and adoption of agricultural technologies play a critical role in increasing yields (Nin‐Pratt et al. 2011). Some of the technology development and dissemination constraints in Ghana include limited availability of appropriate technologies, low adoption of existing technologies, and a supply‐driven approach to technology generation and dissemination that has led to low technology adoption and has highlighted a need for greater responsiveness.

van Rheenen, T.; Obirih-Opareh, N.; Essegbey, G. O.; Kolavalli, S.; Ferguson, J.; Boadu, P.; Fuseini, M.; Chiang, C.