The Influence of Adoption of Improved Oil Palm Production Practices on the Livelihood Assets of Oil Palm Farmers in Kwaebibirem District of Ghana

Abstract

A number of improved oil palm production practices have been introduced to assist small-scale oil palm farmers increase yield and improve on their livelihoods. This study was conducted to examine the influence of adoption of improved oil palm production practices on the livelihood assets of oil palm farmers in Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. In all, 120 oil palm farmers were randomly selected and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Results revealed farmers’ characteristics such as level of education and farm size had significant influence (p<0.05) on the adoption of improved oil palm production practices whilst farmers’ age, gender, farming experience did not exhibit significant influence (p>0.05). Significant differences were observed among farmers who fully adopted improved oil palm technology than the non adopters in acquiring the following: more physical assets in the form of houses and household appliances; financial assets such as access to credit, increased income and savings; participation in group activities as a social asset and human capital in the form of ability to pay children’s school fees. It is recommended that extension services should cover more farmers who should be encouraged to adopt improved oil palm production farming practices and therefore improve on their livelihood assets.

Keywords: Oil palm, Adoption, Livelihood Assets