The average maize yield in Ghana is estimated to be 1.7 metric tons/hectare (MOFA 2009-2011), whereas achievable yields based on on-farm trials are between 4 to 6 tons/hectare. A nationally representative survey of 630 maize farmers in 30 districts in nine regions was implemented before Nov 2013 and Feb 2013 with the aim of providing up-to-date and rarely collected national data and analysis on the patterns of adoption of improved technologies. The findings indicated that fertilizer use was actually much higher than the earlier reports but the intensity of use was half the recommended rate, despite the existence of the though national subsidy program encouraging more use and greater rate of application. Amongst the non-users, half indicated their soil to be fertile while the others indicated costs as a constraint. There were not significant differences in yield between users and non-user. A significant difference in yield was only seen in the Northern Savannah zone which can be attributed to lower soil fertility in that zone compared to the South. Due to the low cost of herbicide, the use of herbicide has increased tremendously – about 73% of the area received herbicide. The pattern and consequences of overuse of herbicide to food safety, environment and human health need further investigation. The adoption of improved varieties has been low; although 61 percent of the maize area was planted with modern varieties, only 15 percent was planted with certified seed (with up to two seasons of seed recycling for open-pollinated varieties). Practices such as no-burn and plowing-in crop residue are mostly used. However soil fertility management such manure use are limited. The adoption of no-tillage practices was very low; burning and plowing were common practices. Plots that were plowed had significantly higher yield, but plots under slash-and-burn had significantly lower yields. Plots under no-till with or without mulch had significantly lower yields than those not under no-till leading to the low adoption of no-tillage technology. An estimated 53% of maize farmers in 1997 had adopted row planting but no increase has been seen since. Simple means comparisons of yield suggest that plots planted in rows have significantly higher yields than those not planted in rows, but yields were not different between those farmers who followed and those who did not follow recommendations for maize plant spacing, seeding rates, and seeds per hill.
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