Promoting Renewable Energy Technologies in Smallholder Agriculture: Examining Factors Influencing Smallholder Farmers Adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies in Lawra, Upper West Region-Ghana

Abstract

Integrating renewable energy (RE) into agricultural practices can contribute to sustainable environmental and economic benefits. In Ghana, RE resources include solar and biomass that can support agronomic activities. Although policies and interventions exist to promote RE development in Ghana, it is unclear what factors motivate farmers to adopt RE technologies in agriculture. This research seeks 1) to review policies in Ghana that promote RE adoption in agriculture, 2) to examine theories applied to understand farmers’ technology adoption behaviour in LMICs in general, 3) to examine factors influencing farmers’ adoption intention and the contributing role of non-farmer stakeholders influencing the adoption of renewable energy in Ghanaian agriculture, 4) to test a predictive model, using structural equation modelling to assess psychological factors that determine farmers’ adoption of RE in Ghanaian agriculture, and 5) to discuss the theoretical implications of the research and provide evidence for Ghanaian policy development in relation to farmer adoption behaviour. A policy review was conducted to assess Ghana’s renewable energy sector and its potential to scale-up application in Ghanaian agriculture. The results showed no central policy aimed at promoting RE adoption in Ghanaian agriculture aside policies in the areas of energy, environment, and climate change. Following the policy review, a systematic review (SR) was conducted to identify an appropriate theoretical approach for the empirical research. The SR addressed ‘what theoretical approaches have been used to explain farmers' adoption of agricultural technologies in LMICs?’. The Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) was found to be the most relevant theoretical approach to understanding farmers’ adoption behaviour. Initial empirical research entailing qualitative research was conducted to assess potential determinants of RE technology adoption in Ghanaian agriculture involving in-depth interviews for farmers (n=36) and non-farmer stakeholders (n=7). The results showed that psychological, economic, social, and technological factors represented enablers and barriers that affected farmers’ likelihood to adopt RE technology for farming. Further results indicated that a broader stakeholder constituency contributed to and influenced farmers’ adoption behaviours through interventions, policies, and institutional collaborations. Based on the outcomes of the SR and qualitative research, a survey was designed involving farmers (n=418) in Lawra Municipality, Upper West Region, Ghana. Structural Equation Modelling was applied to test and validate an adapted theoretical model (DTPB) to predict factors that influenced farmers’ likelihood to adopt RE technology. Aside subjective norms which did not positively predict farmers’ intention, attitude, perceived behavioural control, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility, risk, peer and external influences, self-efficacy, resource facilitating conditions, and technology facilitating conditions were positive and significant predictors of farmers’ intention to adopt RE technology. To ensure widespread adoption of RE in Ghanaian agricultural, policies and interventions must align with the psychological attributes of farmers. Government must establish pragmatic policy regimes, including tax and credit subsidies and green financing frameworks to increase support for farmers to adopt RE technology.