Awareness and adoption of drought tolerant Maize in Guinea Savanna and Forest-Savanna Transition zone in Ghana

Maize production and its yield gap of 4.3 t/ha remains a problem in Ghana in the face of increasing weather variability which further threatens yield on farmer fields. Exploring the Drought Tolerant Maize awareness and adoption rates, its determinants and potential adoption is necessary for the adoption of climate smart farming technologies. The Partial Population Exposure Model was applied to the cross-sectional data for the estimation of the rates and determinants. Awareness was determined by gender, maize farm size, number of maize farms, FBO membership and access to extension service, whereas adoption was determined by gender, maize farm size, education, farming experience, FBO membership, household size and access to extension services. Awareness rate was 69% and 86%, adoption rate was 22% and 76% and potential adoption rate was 31% and 76% in Guinea Savanna and Forest-Savanna Transition Zones, respectively. Population selection-biased estimated were statistically insignificant, indicating that the difference observed were due to lack of information on Drought Tolerant Maize. Improved agricultural technologies development and dissemination should be gender responsive, and Research and Extension services should educate farmers on the best production practices in relation to drought through periodic trainings.