Influence of Psychological Behavior on Agricultural Technology Adoption Among Ghanaian Smallholder Farmers

Abstract

This study examined the influence of psychological behavior of smallholder farmers on agricultural technology adoption. The understanding of behavioral element is necessary determinant of technology adoption pattern for effective response strategy to mitigate influencing behavioral element that undermine positive relationship for increased rate of adoption and based on perceived usefulness and ease of use. The study employed the quantitative research method. Data was collected from 285 randomly selected smallholder rice farmers in the Volta Region of Ghana through a cross-sectional survey. Analysis of the data was done using the Structural Equation Modelling technique to examine the relationship between variables. Findings revealed a significant positive influence of the psychological behavior of smallholder farmers on agricultural technology adoption. There were significant positive relationships between perceived usefulness and agricultural technology adoption, likewise perceived ease of use and adoption. However, perceived ease of use exerts more influence on adoption as compared to perceived usefulness. The study has its implications for governments, and producers of agricultural technologies, emphasizing that perceived utility and simplicity of use must be carefully considered when introducing new technologies to smallholder farmers. The psychological concepts examined in the study provide a limited under-standing of how Ghanaian farmers' psychological conduct is influenced.