SEED MAIZE SOURCES AND EFFECTS ON YIELD AND FARM INCOME IN TECHIMAN MUNICIPALITY, GHANA

Using a cross-sectional survey data on 232 respondents, this study investigates the sources of seed maize and their effects on yield and farm income in the Techiman Municipality of Ghana. The logit model and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the factors influencing choice of seed source and effect on yield, respectively. The t-test was used to compare the mean yields and farm income from the various sources of seed maize. The study found that majority of the farmers obtain their seed maize from the informal seed system. Extension services, maturity, pest and diseases resistant, credit access and cost of seed maize were found to influence farmers’ choice of seed source. Farm size, volume of herbicide applied, cost of labour and volume of fertilizer applied were found to influence yield. Although the formal seed system recorded a higher mean yield but a lower mean profit relative to the informal seed system, there was no statistically significant difference. The study recommends that, policies that minimize the incidence of cost should be implemented by the Government to increase adoption of the formal seed system for higher yield.