This paper presents a comparative evaluation of maize and cowpea grain yields of 24 farmers in the Forest-Savannah Transition (Atebubu-Amantin) and Guinea Savannah (West-Mamprusi) zones of Ghana for 2012 and 2014 respectively at the inception and completion of the sustainable intensification of crop-livestock integration project. While only 7 and 2 farmers planted maize in rows at project inception, 12 and 9 farmers were recorded at project completion in Atebubu–Amantin and West–Mamprusi districts respectively. During 2012 cropping season, when farmers had access to fertilizer in the form of subsidy, only a farmer in each district did not apply fertilizer. However, the reverse was observed in 2014 where there was no subsidy. Comparing 2012 and 2014 cropping season results, revealed a 25% and 27% increase in maize grain yield in Atebubu–Amantin and West–Mamprusi districts respectively. Economic analysis revealed a high benefit cost ratio in maize and cowpea production in 2014 than in 2012 for both locations. The study has demonstrated that, enabling environment that encourages access to tools and implements for row planting and fertilizer in the form of subsidy would complement good agronomic technology packages introduced to farmers in order to ensure sustainable cereal and legume production.

1. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
WRJAS
Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable
maize and cowpea production: The role of enabling
policy
E. Owusu Danquah1*
, S.A. Ennin1
, F. Frimpong1
, P. Oteng-Darko1
, S. Yeboah1
, J. Osei-Adu1
1
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research- Crops Research Institute, P. O. Box 3785 Kumasi, Ghana.
This paper presents a comparative evaluation of maize and cowpea grain yields of 24 farmers in
the Forest-Savannah Transition (Atebubu-Amantin) and Guinea Savannah (West-Mamprusi) zones
of Ghana for 2012 and 2014 respectively at the inception and completion of the sustainable
intensification of crop-livestock integration project. While only 7 and 2 farmers planted maize in
rows at project inception, 12 and 9 farmers were recorded at project completion in Atebubu–
Amantin and West–Mamprusi districts respectively. During 2012 cropping season, when farmers
had access to fertilizer in the form of subsidy, only a farmer in each district did not apply fertilizer.
However, the reverse was observed in 2014 where there was no subsidy. Comparing 2012 and
2014 cropping season results, revealed a 25% and 27% increase in maize grain yield in Atebubu–
Amantin and West–Mamprusi districts respectively. Economic analysis revealed a high benefit
cost ratio in maize and cowpea production in 2014 than in 2012 for both locations. The study has
demonstrated that, enabling environment that encourages access to tools and implements for row
planting and fertilizer in the form of subsidy would complement good agronomic technology
packages introduced to farmers in order to ensure sustainable cereal and legume production.
Key words: Yield Gap, Ghana, Food Security, Good Agronomic Practices, Cereal-Legume production, Intensification,
Policy.
INTRODUCTION
Improvement in productivity of cereals and legumes
especially maize and legumes would improve farmers’
income and reduce poverty of smallholders (Singh and
Ajeigbe 2007; Kassam et al., 2010; Amujoyegbe et al.,
2013). This is because maize and cowpea are the main
grain crops grown in Sub-Saharan Africa on a broad
range of soil fertility and management conditions
(Jackai and Adalla 1997; Agbato, 2000; Carsky and
Kling, 1995). However, yield variability on a large range
has been observed, reflecting the intensity and spatial
distribution of growth-limiting and growth-reducing
factors (Yangyuoru et al., 2001; Yeboah et al., 2014;
Nyasasi and Kisetu, 2014). The average maize and
cowpea grain yield in Ghana is 1.7t/ha and 1.3t/ha
respectively against potential grain yields of 6-7t/ha and
2.6t/ha respectively (SRID-MoFA, 2011; GGDP, 1993).
*Corresponding author: Owusu Danquah Eric, Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research- Crops Research
Institute, P. O. Box 3785 Kumasi, Ghana. Email:
ericdany7@gmail.com, Tel.: +233-242357061, +233-
266197247
World Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Vol. 2(2), pp. 028-038, November, 2015. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2326-7266x
Research Article

2. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
Owusu Danquah et al. 028
During the period under review, grain yields per unit
area increased and decreased by 6.03% and 0.86% for
maize and cowpea respectively. However, area under
production of maize and cowpea increased by about 5%
and 20% respectively. Thus whiles a percentage
increase in area under maize production resulted in
about a percentage yield increase, 20% increase in
area under cowpea production only resulted in about
1% loss in grain yield (SRID-MoFA, 2011). There is the
need for sustaining the yields of maize and cowpea
production in the face of climate change.
Grain yields of maize and cowpea are mainly low
because of poor agronomic practices and poor soil
fertility (Yeboah et al., 2014; Kisetu and Mtakimwa,
2013; Yangyuoru et al., 2001). Demonstration of good
agricultural practices through Innovation Platform (IP)
approach would aid in dissemination to bridge the yield
gap (Kassam et al., 2010). This study forms part of a
sustainable intensification crop-small ruminant project
which aimed at improving agricultural productivity,
income, food security and reduce poverty through
integrated crop-small ruminant systems of small scale
farmers. The study used innovation platform approach
in identification of bottlenecks along the cereal/legume-
small ruminant value chain. This was done through
monitoring and estimation of maize and cowpea yields
on farmers’ field. In addition the causes and the needed
interventions on yield gaps were assessed during the
project period. Thus growth and yield performance of
cowpea and maize in 2012 cropping season just at the
inception of the project were compared to that of 2014
cropping season right after demonstrating good
agronomic practices through the project till 2014, end of
the project. This was to track technology adoption and
yield performance within the selected communities after
inception of the project. This paper presents the impact
of the project on grain yields in the communities and
recommends gaps for policy intervention to encourage
the adoption of good agricultural practices.
METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted in the Atebubu-Amantin and
West Mamprusi districts in the Forest-Savannah
Transition and Guinea Savannah agro-ecological zones
of Ghana respectively. Atebubu-Amantin has a bimodal
rainfall pattern and therefore two cropping seasons in a
year whiles West Mamprusi has a unimodal rainfall
pattern and therefore only one cropping season in a
year. Cropping system, agronomic practices and yield
performance were monitored at the beginning of the
project (2012) and at the end of the project (2014). In
2012 a baseline study was conducted on farmers’
cropping practices and yields. Farmers were then
introduced to good agronomic practices through field
demonstrations. Good agronomic practices
demonstrated included; row planning, use of fertilizer,
use of improved seed varieties and germination test
among others. The baseline study on farmers’ field in
2012, informed the above agronomic interventions to
address these identified agronomic lapses. The 2014
cropping season data collection focused on monitoring
and tracking of farmers’ practices and yield
performance after the introduction of the interventions
(good agronomic practices). The experimental design
used was Randomised Complete Block Design with
three replications. Each selected farmer in a location
was considered as a treatment. Three plots (10m x
10m) were demarcated randomly on each of the
selected farmer’s field. Growth and yield data were then
collected from these demarcated areas in both
locations. Out of the total selected farmers, the data for
farmers who consistently planted in both years (2012
and 2014) were subjected to analysis of variance at 5%
significant level for comparison.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Maize yields for the selected farmers in 2012 ranged
between 1.06t/ha and 2.48t/ha with an average of
1.70t/ha, whiles the yield for 2014 ranged between
1.65t/ha to 2.88t/ha at an average of 2.27t/ha (Fig. 1a).
This implies an increase of 25% in yields from 2012 to
2014.
Generally, cowpea grain yields also did increase
comparing 2012 to 2014 (Fig. 1b). 2012 had yields
ranging between 0.73t/ha and 1.28t/ha with an average
of 0.97t/ha whiles that of 2014 ranged between 0.79t/ha
and 1.59t/ha with an average of 1.10t/ha (Fig. 1b). This
implies an average of 8% yield increase.
Maize grain yields in the West-Mamprusi district
followed similar trends as in Atebubu-Amantin district.
Generally yields increased in 2014 compared to 2012.
The yields ranged between 0.66t/ha and 2.61t/ha with
an average of 1.46t/ha whiles that of 2014 ranged
between 1.16t/ha and 3.05t/ha with an average of
2.00t/ha (Fig. 2a). This implies a productivity increase of
about 27% in maize grain yields of farmers at this
location.
The cowpea yields ranged between 0.62t/ha and
0.83t/ha with an average of 0.75t/ha in year 2012 whiles
year 2014 ranged between 0.75t/ha and 1.17t/ha with

3. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 029
Table 1. Agro-ecological characteristics of the selected Districts
Adapted from Adu and Asiamah, 1992 & www.westmamprusi.ghanadistricts.gov.gh
Table 1a. Agronomic practices and yield performance of maize measured from farmers’ fields for the major and minor season of 2012 and
2014, Atebubu-Amantin District, Ghana.
Name of
farmer/Code
Gender Maize
Variety
P:C
Farm
Size/ha
P:C
Fertilizer application (50kg/ha)
(NPK/SA)
P:C
Method of
planting
P:C
Plant
Stand/m
2
P:C
Major season
A Male Local mix: Obatanpa 2.4:12.8 3.5/2.5:2.5/2 Scattered:Row 5.80:6.1
B Male Obatanpa:Obaatanpa 0.5:0.6 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered:Row 8.60:6.14
C Female Abrohomaa:Obatanpa 0.8:0.6 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered:Row 9.87:6.21
D Male Pan53: Obatanpa 0.5:0.8 2.5/2:nil/nil Row:Row 5.90:6.16
E Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1.6:1.2 3.75/2.5:nil/nil Row:Row 7.33:6.76
Minor Season
F Male Pan53: Obatanpa 1.6:1.6 2.5/1.5:nil/nil Row:Row 5.47:6.2
G Female Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1:1.2 Nil/2.5:nil/nil Row:Row 8.10:6.42
H Male Local mix: Obatanpa 0.6:4 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Row:Row 8.20:6.4
I Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1:0.8 2.5/2:nil/nil Row:Row 7.47:6.3
J Female Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.6:0.8 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered:Row 10.20:6.34
K Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.8:1 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Row:Row 7.31:6.12
L Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1:1.2 2.5/1:nil/nil Scattered:Row 9.87:6.02
Panna 53 and Obatanpa are improved varieties. (P:C; P- Previous 2012: Current – 2014). Scattered Planting: is a method of planting where the
seeds are planted haphazardly on the field.
an average of 1.05t/ha. That is an increase in cowpea
grain yield of about 29% comparing 2012 to 2014 (Fig.
2b).
Generally the benefit cost ratios were higher in 2014 for
all the maize fields as compared to 2012. Benefit cost
ratio ranged between 0.42 – 5.03: 1 and 1.52 – 7.88: 1
in 2012 and 2014 respectively, suggesting maize
production was more profitable in 2014 than 2012. Also,
the benefit cost ratios were higher and similar for
farmers who practiced row planting as compared to
those who used scattered planting in both years. This
implies row planting is more profitable than scattered
planting in maize production (Table 3a). Similar trends
were observed in the cowpea production and benefits
cost ratio ranged between 1.92 – 4.12: 1 and 2.16 –
5.12: 1
Characteristics Location
Atebubu-Amantin District
(7.6333° N, 1.0667° W)
West Mamprusi District
( 10.3520° N, 0.7990° W)
Agro-ecological zone Forest-Savannah Transition Guinea Savannah
Soil description Sandy loams to clayey loams, and are
mostly poorly drained
Soils of alluvial origin (Savannah glycols). Deep and well suitable
for wide range of crop cultivation
Temperature
(Min-Max.
o
C )
2012-2014
21-34 28 -39
Wet season Bimodal rainfall pattern Unimodal rainfall pattern
Major March –mid August Late April -- mid August
Minor Sept-Nov; peak in Oct ----
Total annual rainfall
(mm)
2012 (1028) 2014 (1226 ) 2012 (1114 ) 2014 (1210)

4. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
Owusu Danquah et al. 030
Figure 1a. Grain yield performance of maize measured from farmers’ fields for the major and minor season of 2012 and 2014,
Atebubu-Amantin District Ghana.
Table 1b. Agronomic practices of cowpea measured from farmers’ field for the major and minor season of 2012 and 2014, Atebubu-Amantin
District Ghana.
NB: Padituya- dual purpose variety whiles others are local. Scattered Planting: is a method of planting where the seeds are planted haphazardly on
the field. Broadcasting: method of planting where seeds are spread on field by throwing on the field and ploughed or harrowed over as a cover
in 2012 and 2014 respectively (Table 3b). Similarly,
high and low benefit cost ratios were recorded for
farmers who used scattered planting method and
broadcasting planting method respectively in 2012 and
2014. Thus, though not the best method of planting,
Scattering is more profitable than broadcasting for
cowpea production (Table 3b).
The benefit cost ratio for maize production ranged
between 0.05 – 1.88:1 and 2.40 – 7.94:1 for 2012 and
2014 respectively, showing a significant increase in
Farmer
Code
Gender Variety
P:C
Planting
Method
P:C
Plant
Stand/
m
2
P:C
Farm size
/Ha
P:C
Number of times
sprayed
P:C
Major season
A Male Nhyira: Alan Cash Broadcasting: Scattered 15.17:19.13 15:20 5:4
B Female Alan cash: Padituya Broadcasting: Scattered 12.49:
10.13
1.2:0.8 4:3
C Male Alan cash: Alan
cash
Broadcasting:
Broadcasting
11.3: 16.12 1.0:1.0 4:3
Minor season
D Female Alan cash: Alan
cash
Broadcasting:
Broadcasting
14.34:
10.34
0.8:1 6:3
E Female Alan cash: Alan
cash
Broadcasting:
Broadcasting
12.80:15.4 1:1.2 6:4
F Female Alan cash: Padituya Broadcasting:
Broadcasting
12.21:14.10 1.2:0.8 2:3

5. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 031
Figure 1b. Grain yield performance of cowpea measured from farmers’ fields for the major and minor season of 2012 and 2014,
Atebubu-Amantin District Ghana.
Table 2a. Agronomic practices of maize measured from farmers’ fields for the 2012 and 2014 Cropping season, Wungu and Wulugu, West
Mamprusi of Ghana.
Farmer/
Code
Gender Maize
Variety
P:C
Farm
Size/ha
P:C
Fertilizer
application
(50kg/ha)
(NPK/SA)
P:C
Method of
Planting
P:C
Plant
Stand/m
2
P:C
A Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.4: 0.5 Nil/nil:nil/nil Scattered: Row 9.76: 5.12
B Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.4 : 0.6 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Row 8.67: 5.54
C Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1.2 : 0.4 2.5/1.25:nil/nil Scattered: Row 7.92: 6.12
D Female Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.4: 0.5 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Row 8.05: 5.23
E Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.8 :1.2 5/2.5:nil/nil Row: Row 6.02: 5.91
F Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.6: 0.4 3.75/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Row 6.40: 6.10
G Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1.2: 1 2.5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Row 6.76: 5.95
H Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1.6: 1.2 5/2.5:nil/nil Row: Row 5.79: 6.08
I Female Obatanpa: Obatanpa 0.6:0.8 5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Scattered 6.61:8.02
J Male Obatanpa: Obatanpa 1:0.8 5/2.5:nil/nil Scattered: Row 8.13:6.03
P-Previous (2012) C-Current (2014); Obatanpa is improved maize variety (NB: West Mamprusi has one growing season in a year). Scattered Planting:
is a method of planting where the seeds are planted haphazardly on the field. Broadcasting: method of planting where seeds are spread on field by
throwing on the field and ploughed or harrowed over as a cover
benefit cost ratio between the years for maize
production. Benefit cost ratio were generally higher for
row planting than scattered planting in both years. Thus
maize production was profitable using row planting than
using scattering in 2012 and 2014 (Table 4a). The
benefit cost ratio of cowpea production also increased
from 1.07 – 2.50:1 in 2012 to 2.30 – 3.13:1 in 2014.
Farmers who used scattered planting method; though
not the recommended planting method had higher
benefit cost ratio than farmers who used broadcasting

6. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
Owusu Danquah et al. 032
Figure 2a. Grain yield performance of maize measured from farmers’ fields for the 2012 and 2014 Cropping season, Wungu and Wulugu,
West Mamprusi of Ghana
Table 2b. Agronomic practices of cowpea observed from farmers’ fields for the 2014 Cropping season, Wungu and Wulugu, West
Mamprusi of Ghana.
Farmers
Code
Gender Variety
P:C
Planting
Method
P:C
Plant
Stand/
m
2
P:C
Farm
size/
Ha
P:C
Number of times
sprayed
P:C
A Female local: Apa-abala Scattered : Scattered 10.75: 14.1 0.4:0.8 Nil: 2
B Male Apa-abala:Apa-
abala
Scattered : Scattered 12.45:10.21 0.5:0.6 Nil: 4
C Male Apa-abala:Apa-
abala
Broadcasting:
Scattered
19.53:11.56 1:0.4 6:3
D Male Local:Apa-abala Broadcasting:
Broadcasting
20.26:18.19 0.8:1 Nil:Nil
E Female Apa-abala: Apa-
abala
Broadcasting:
Scattered
11.21:19.45 0.8:0.4 1:2
Apa-abala is an improved dual purpose cowpea variety from SARI. P- Previous (2012) C- Current (2014) (NB: West-Mamprusi has
only one growing season in a year). Scattered Planting: is a method of planting where the seeds are planted haphazardly on the field.
Whiles in broadcasting the seeds are spread on the field by throwing and covered with a plough
method of planting in both years (Table 4b). Thus it is
more profitable to use scattered planting method than to
use broadcasting in cowpea production.
The average increases in maize grain yield from
1.70t/ha and 1.46 t/ha in 2012 to 2.27t/ha and 2t/ha
(25% and 27%) in 2014 for Atebubu-Amantin and West-
Mamprusi districts respectively could be attributed to
the general change from scattering to row planting
(Table 1a, 2a, Fig. 1a and 2a). It can be observed that
farmers who changed from scattered method of planting
in 2012 to row planting method in 2014 had a sharp and
significant increase in yields (Table 1a and Fig. 1a). The
situation in Atebubu-Amantin was similar to that of West
Mamprusi district. Most of the farmers changed from
scattered planting of maize to row planting

7. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 033
Figure 2b. Grain yield performance of cowpea measured from farmers’ fields for the 2014 Cropping season, Wungu and Wulugu, West
Mamprusi of Ghana.
method, which might have played a key role in the yield
increases from 1.46t/ha to 2t/ha (Table 2a and Fig. 2a).
Only a farmer in each district applied fertilizer during the
2014 cropping season. In an interview, farmers stated
that during the 2014 cropping season, they had no
subsidy on fertilizers. Hence, only a farmer in each
district applied fertilizer to their crops compared to 2012
where farmers had subsidy, almost all the farmers
applied fertilizer on their fields (Table 1a and 2a). Row
and scattered planting resulted in number of plants per
stand range of 5-10 plt/m
2
, 5-7 plt/m
2
and grain yield
range of 1.06 – 1.8t/ha and 1.65 – 2.9t/ha respectively
in both years at the Atebubu-Amantin district (Table 1a
and Fig. 1a). This corresponds to an average benefit
cost ratio of 4.34:1 and 1.09:1 for using row and
scattered planting in maize production for both years in
the Atebubu-Amantin district (Table 3a). Thus if a
farmer invested Gh₵ 1.00 in maize production and used
row planting, an average profit of Gh₵ 3.34 would be
accrued in addition to the Gh₵ 1.00 invested capital
whiles an investment of Gh₵ 1.00 in maize production
using scattered planting would accrue only Gh₵ 0.09 in
addition to the Gh₵ 1:00 invested capital (Table 3a).
In West-Mamprusi, row and scattered planting of maize
resulted in number of plants per meter square ranging
6-9plt/m
2
, 5-6plt/m
2
and grain yield range of 0.66-
2.61t/ha, 1.16-3.05t/ha respectively in both years (Table
2a and Fig. 2a). The economic analysis revealed an
average benefit cost ratio of 1.31: 1 and 4.22: 1 for
scattered and row planting respectively for both years
(Table 4a). Thus in West-Mamprusi, an investment of
Gh₵ 1.00 in maize production using row planting would
lead to a profit of Gh₵ 3.22 in addition to the Gh₵ 1:00
invested capital. If scattered planting is used a small
profit of Gh₵ 0.31 would be obtained in addition to the
Gh₵ 1:00 invested capital.
The significantly high grain yield and benefit cost ratio
for row planting as compared to scattered planting
might be attributed to the number of stand per meter
square which approached the recommended 6 plants
per meter square at planting distance of 80cm X 40cm
(GGDP, 1993). With scattered planting the plants per
unit area are higher or lower leading to competition or
underutilization of soil nutrients by the plants
respectively, resulting in low biomass and grain yields.
Cowpea grain yield did increase from 0.97t/ha and
0.75t/ha in 2012 to 1.1t/ha and 1.05t/ha (8% and 29%)
in 2014 for Atebubu-Amantin and West mamprusi
districts respectively. It can be observed that an
increase of 8% in Atebubu-Amantin district in cowpea
yield is small and insignificant. This might be due to the
variety (Allan Cash) and the broadcasting method of
planting. Even, those who decided to change from
broadcasting used scattered instead of the
recommended row planting method. The use of
scattering and broadcasting resulted in 1.44t/ha:
0.95t/ha and 0.93t/ha: 0.75t/ha of grain yields in the

8. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
Owusu Danquah et al. 034
Table 3a. Partial budget and cost benefit analysis of maize production in the Atebubu-Amantin District of Ghana for year 2012 and 2014
Farmer Code Farmer A Farmer B Farmer C Farmer D Farmer E Farmer F Farmer G Farmer H Famer I Farmer J Farmer K Farmer L
Cropping year 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014
Average
yields(kg/ha) 1070 2180 1410 1910 1060 1950 1320 1650 1560 1850 2310 2410 1930 2330 1990 2350 2480 2720 1800 2880 2190 2430 1580 2630
Adjusted yield* 963 1962 1269 1719 954 1755 1188 1485 1404 1665 2079 2169 1737 2097 1791 2115 2232 2448 1620 2592 1971 2187 1422 2367
Gross
benefit(₵/ha) 770 2,158 1,015 1,891 763 1,931 950 1,634
1,12
3 1,832 1,663 2,386 1,390 2,307 1,433 2,327 1,786 2,693 1,296 2,851 1576.8 2405.7 1137.6 2603.7
Cost of
chemical
fertilizer(₵) 288.5 435 237.5 0 237.5 0 215.5 0 301.25 0 193.5 0 46.5 0 237.5 0 215.5 0 237.5 0 237.5 0 171.5 0
Labour cost for
application of
Fert.(₵/ha) 65 100 60 0 60 0 60 0 70 0 30 0 15 0 60 0 60 0 40 0 60 0 30 0
Cost of land
clearing &
Plouging(₵/ha) 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60
Cost of seed
(₵/ha) 20 56.25 20 56.25 45 56.25 55 56.25 45 56.25 55 56.25 45 56.25 20 56.25 45 56.25 45 56.25 45 56.25 45 56.25
Labour cost of
planting(₵/ha) 25 50 25 50 25 50 37.5 50 37.5 50 37.5 50 37.5 50 37.5 50 37.5 50 25 50 37.5 50 37.5 50
Cost of
weeding 2
times(₵/ha) 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75
Harvesting
cost(₵/ha) 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80 55 80
Total cost that
vary 544 856 488 321 513 321 513 321 599 321 461 321 289 321 500 321 503 321 493 321 525 321 429 321
Net benefit 227 1,302 528 1,570 251 1,609 437 1,312 524 1,510 1,202 2,065 1,101 1,985 933 2,005 1,283 2,372 804 2,530 1,052 2,084 709 2,282
Benefit
cost/Ratio 0.42 1.52 1.08 4.89 0.49 5.01 0.85 4.08 0.88 4.70 2.61 6.43 3.81 6.18 1.87 6.24 2.55 7.38 1.63 7.88 2.00 6.49 1.65 7.10
NB:* Average yield adjusted 10%; Farm gate price per kg of maize in 2012 and 2014 =Gh₵ 0.80 and Gh₵ 1.10 respectively. Farmers A, B, C, J and L used scattered planting in 2012 whiles the rest used row planting. All the farmers used row planting in 2014.
Average benefit cost ratio of Row and Scattered planting for both years were 1.09: 1.00 and 4.34: 1.00 respectively

9. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 035
Table 3b. Partial budget and cost benefit analysis of cowpea production in the Atebubu-Amantin District of Ghana for year 2012 and 2014
Farmer Code Farmer A Farmer B Farmer C Farmer D Farmer E Farmer F
Cropping year 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014
Average yields(kg/ha) 1280 1590 1060 1290 920 1000 730 790 920 890 920 1030
Adjusted yield* 1152 1431 954 1161 828 900 657 711 828 801 828 927
Gross benefit(₵/ha) 2,189 3,864 1,813 3,135 1,573 2,430 1,248 1,920 1,573 2,163 1,573 2,503
Cost of land clearing & Plouging(₵/ha) 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60 40 60
Cost of seed (₵/ha) 67.5 45 67.5 45 67.5 67.5 67.5 67.5 67.5 67.5 67.5 67.5
Labour cost of planting(₵/ha) 30 87.5 30 87.5 30 50 30 50 30 50 30 50
Cost of weeding 2 times(₵/ha) 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75
cost for chemical spraying 2 times (₵/ha) 40 75 40 75 40 75 40 75 40 75 40 75
Labour cost of Spraying (₵/ha) 50 80 50 80 50 80 50 80 50 80 50 80
Harvesting and processing cost(₵/ha) 150 200 150 200 150 200 150 200 150 200 150 200
Total cost that vary 428 623 428 623 428 608 428 608 428 608 428 608
Net benefit 1,761 3,241 1,385 2,512 1,146 1,823 821 1,312 1,146 1,555 1,146 1,895
Benefit cost/Ratio 4.12 5.21 3.24 4.04 2.68 3 1.92 2.16 2.68 2.56 2.68 3.12
NB:* Average yield adjusted 10%; Farm gate price per kg of cowpea in 2012 and 2014 = Gh₵1.90 and Gh₵2.70 respectively. All the farmers practised broadcasting in 2012 while’s farmers A and B
changed to scattered planting in 2014. Average benefit cost ratio of scattered and broadcasting planting for both years were 4.63: 1.00 and 2.82: 1.00 respectively.
Table 4a. Partial budget and cost benefit analysis of maize production in the West-Mamprusi District of Ghana for year 2012 and 2014
Farmer Code Farmer A Farmer B Farmer C Farmer D Farmer E Farmer F Farmer G Farmer H Famer I Farmer J
Cropping year 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014
Average yields(kg/ha) 660 1160 780 1350 960 1490 890 1250 2270 2480 2610 3050 1750 2590 1750 2590 1750 1710 1350 2210
Adjusted yield* 594 1044 702 1215 864 1341 801 1125 2043 2232 2349 2745 1575 2331 1575 2331 1575 1539 1215 1989
Gross benefit(₵/ha) 416 1,023 491 1,191 605 1,314 561 1,103 1,430 2,187 1,644 2,690 1,103 2,284 1,103 2,284 1,103 1,508 851 1,949
Cost of chemical fertilizer(₵) 0 0 237.5 0 182.5 0 237.5 0 365 0 301.25 0 237.5 0 365 0 365 0 365 0

10. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
Owusu Danquah et al. 036
Table 4a. Cont.
Labour cost for application of
Fert.(₵/ha) 0 0 55 0 30 0 55 0 70 0 60 0 55 0 60 0 60 0 60 0
Cost of land clearing & Plouging(₵/ha) 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55
Cost of seed (₵/ha) 20 56.25 20 56.25 45 56.25 55 56.25 45 56.25 55 56.25 45 56.25 20 56.25 45 56.25 45 56.25
Labour cost of planting(₵/ha) 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5 25 42.5
Cost of weeding 2 times(₵/ha) 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75 50 75
Harvesting cost(₵/ha) 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72
Total cost that vary 175 301 468 301 413 301 503 301 635 301 571 301 493 301 600 301 625 301 625 301
Net benefit 241 722 24 890 192 1,013 58 802 795 1,887 1,073 2,389 610 1,984 503 1,984 478 1,207 226 1,648
Benefit cost/Ratio 1.38 2.40 0.05 2.96 0.47 3.37 0.12 2.67 1.25 6.27 1.88 7.94 1.24 6.59 0.84 6.60 0.76 4.01 0.36 5.48
NB: Average yield adjusted 10%; Farm gate price per kg of maize in 2012 and 2014 = Gh₵ 0.70 and Gh₵ 0.98 respectively. Only farmer E practiced row planting with all the rest practicing Scattered planting in 2012. Only farmer I used Scattered
planting with the rest using row planting in 2014. Average benefit cost ratio of scattered and row planting are 1.31: 1.00 and 4.22: 1.00
Table 4b. Partial budget and cost benefit analysis of cowpea production in the West-Mamprusi District of Ghana for year 2012 and 2014
Farmer Code Farmer A Farmer B Farmer C Farmer D Farmer E
Cropping year 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014 2012 2014
Average yields(kg/ha) 730 1050 750 1120 810 1150 620 750 830 1170
Adjusted yield* 657 945 675 1008 729 1035 558 675 747 1053
Gross benefit(₵/ha) 1,117 2,287 1,148 2,439 1,239 2,505 949 1,634 1,270 2,548
Cost of land clearing & Plouging(₵/ha) 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55 35 55
Cost of seed (₵/ha) 67.5 45 67.5 45 85 67.5 85 85 85 67.5
Labour cost of planting(₵/ha) 40 87.5 40 87.5 25 87.5 25 48 30 87.5
Cost of weeding 2 times(₵/ha) 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72 45 72
cost for chemical spraying (₵/ha) 0 65 0 140 120 60 0 0 20 75
Labour cost of Spraying (₵/ha) 0 70 0 150 150 75 0 0 25 80
Harvesting and processing cost(₵/ha) 140 190 140 190 140 190 140 190 140 190
Total cost that vary 328 585 328 740 600 607 330 450 380 627
Net benefit 789 1,702 820 1,700 639 1,898 619 1,184 890 1,921
Benefit cost/Ratio 2.41 2.91 2.50 2.30 1.07 3.13 1.87 2.63 2.34 3.06
NB: Average yield adjusted 10%; Farm gate price per kg of maize in 2012 and 2014 =Gh₵ 1.70 and Gh₵ 2.42 respectively. Average benefit cost ratio of scattered and broadcasting planting are 1.31:
1.00 and 4.22: 1.00

11. Adoption of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and cowpea production: the role of enabling policy
World Res. J. Agric. Sci. 037
Atebubu-Amantin and West-Mamprusi districts
respectively. The economic analysis revealed a benefit
cost ratio of 1.44:1; 0.95:1 and 0.93:1; 0.75:1 for
scattered and broadcasting planting of cowpea in
Atebubu-Amantin and West Mamprusi districts
respectively (Table 1b and 2b). Thus cowpea
production with broadcasting method would lead to a
loss. Broadcasting and scattering resulted in low or high
number of stands per unit area below or above the
recommended 16 plants per meter square (spacing of
60cm X 20cm at 2 plants per hill) for cowpea production
(GGDP, 1993). According to the farmers, high labour
cost and unavailability are the main hindrance for still
using broadcasting method of planting. The ―Allan cash‖
cowpea variety used by farmers especially in Atebubu-
Amantin district is highly susceptible to diseases which
might have contributed to the sight increase in yield of
just 8%. In spite of this, farmers in this location
preferred the white and black eye qualities of the ―Allan
cash‖ and according to them; it is more marketable as
compared to others. Therefore, there is the need for
more breeding work to inculcate disease tolerant trait in
―Allan cash‖ for farmers in this location.
In spite of the general increases in yield, the yields were
still below the potential of 6-7t/ha and 2.6t/ha grain
yields predicted for maize and cowpea respectively by
Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana (SRID-
MoFA, 2011). Facts and figures from MoFA have
revealed that a 10.88% and 11.35% increase in maize
and cowpea production in the country was as a result of
6.13% expansion and 0.86% reduction in area under
production. Thus increase in productivity is mainly due
to expansion in area under production for maize
production whiles cowpea increased in production was
not mainly due to area under production. Maize and
cowpea production like other food crop production are
mostly on smallholder bases with land area less than 2
acres (SRID-MoFA, 2011). Therefore adoption of good
agronomic practices would boost production and
improve farmers’ income.
Policy intervention
The national vision for the food and agriculture sector is
a modernized agriculture resulting in a transformed
economy, evident in food security, employment
opportunities and improved livelihood (MoFA, 2007).
This study has shown that good agronomic practices
have the potential to increase yields and income of
smallholders. The major constrains to farmers who still
use poor agronomic practices such as broadcasting has
been unavailability of labour and farm inputs such as
fertilizer (FAO, 2010). This is where the intervention of
enabling policies would be vital. The Government of
Ghana created the Agricultural Mechanization Centres
(AMCs) to assist farmers who cannot meet the condition
of acquiring their own tractors to have access and at
affordable rate (FAO, 2010). Although there are a
number of Mechanization centres, these centres have
tractors but lacks accompanying implements for
operations such as seeding, weeding, harvestering etc.
There is the need to add to these tractors the required
implements at the mechanization centres so as to
enable farmers gain access to address the problem of
labour unavailability for planting, weeding and
harvesting. Moreover, good agronomic technologies
comes in a package and therefore adopting good
planting methods and use of improved varieties without
fertilizer application would not lead to the expected
yields. Therefore there is the need for timely subsidy on
fertilizer and other agrochemical inputs to encourage
ease of access.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Although grain yields of maize and cowpea increased
across all locations comparing 2012 and 2014, the
yields were still below the potential yields of maize and
cowpea in the country. Row planting technology seems
to have gone on well with maize farmers, however,
fertilizer unavailability in a form of subsidy is still a major
challenge and policy dialogue would be efficient in
addressing this challenge. On cowpea, the bottle neck
still remains with the method of planting. Farmers are
still using traditional method of broadcasting and
therefore the need to find mechanized alternatives for
cowpea production to address the problem of labour
availability. The study has demonstrated enabling policy
environment has a vital role in technology adoption for
sustainable legume and cereal production.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to DFAT of the Australian
Government for providing funding through
CORAF/WECARD for the Sustainable Intensification of
Integrated Crop-Small Ruminant Production Systems in
West Africa (Crop-small ruminant) project through which
this study was conducted.
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Accepted 13 October, 2015.
Citation: Owusu Danquah E, Ennin SA, Frimpong F,
Oteng-Darko P, Yeboah S, Osei-Adu J (2015). Adoption
of good agricultural practices for sustainable maize and
cowpea production: the role of enabling policy. World
Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2(2): 028-
038.
Copyright: © 2015 Owusu Danquah et al. This is an
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