An integrated socioeconomic analysis of innovation adoption: The case of hybrid cocoa in Ghana

This study employs a multidisciplinary model to explain the adoption of agricultural innovations in developing economies with reference to hybrid cocoa in Ghana. The empirical evidence shows that, in the adoption of hybrid cocoa, the support that small-scale farmers obtain via their social networks is more relevant than the advantage of farm size enjoyed by large-scale farmers. However, for large-scale farmers, access to a bank loan strongly increases their chance of adoption compared with small-scale farmers. Contacts with extension agents, education, and availability of hired labor also have positive effects on adoption. The social status of the farmers has only an indirect effect on adoption: farmers with higher social status are more likely to obtain a bank loan, and a bank loan has a positive impact on adoption. (C) 1999 Society for Policy Modeling. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.