Assessing the exposure and effect of adoption of improved rice varieties on the net rice income of Ghanaian farming households

This study analysed the exposure and effect of adoption of improved rice varieties on household net rice income per hectare of 576 Ghanaian households for 2012/2013 cultivation season. Exposure to improved rice varieties was estimated to account for non-exposure bias, followed by the effect of adoption on net rice income for the exposed households using switching regression. Rice projects and agricultural input shops in communities increased exposure to improved rice varieties. Similarly, community participation in rice projects, being a model farmer, participation in block farming, agricultural extension, seeking higher yield, and cultivating rice under irrigation had positive influence on adoption of improved rice varieties. Adopters increased their net income per ha by GH¢374.6 whereas the potential gain to the non-adopters had they adopted would have been GH¢867.5. Therefore, the adopting households were better off than non-adopters. The average exposure rate and adoption rate of improved rice varieties were 82.5% and 67.2% respectively. These findings will aid effective planning of dissemination activities by agricultural extension agents to increase the diffusion and adoption of improved rice varieties by farmers to increase their net rice income.