INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCING COMMERCIAL LARGE-SCALE OYSTER MUSHROOM PRODUCTION IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION OF GHANA

Institutional factors influencing commercial oyster mushroom production

Abstract

A well-functioning public or private institution is required to promote the commercialisation of agriculture. In Ghana, the Mushroom Unit of the Food Research Institutes spearheads mushroom commercialisation. It is, however, unclear which of the Food Research Institute’s (FRI) services to mushroom farmers are most beneficial to enhance mushroom commercialisation in the country and what factors influence farmers’ choice to access these services. We conducted a census on 153 oyster mushroom farmers in the Ga East and Adentan Municipalities in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana to seek their perceptions on the level of importance they associate with the services of the Mushroom Unit for commercial mushroom production and to determine the relationship between farmers’ choice of FRI services and background characteristics of farmers. We collected the data using a structured interview schedule. We analysed the data using frequency, mean percentage, standard deviation, the Garrett Ranking Technique, and multinomial logistic regression. The results revealed that training in mushroom cultivation techniques was the most beneficial service of the Mushroom Unit for commercial, large-scale mushroom production (64.88%). The spawn supply placed second (55.20%). The extension and farm visits and supply of compost bags, with respective mean scores of 41.06 and 36.89 per cent, were ranked third and fourth, respectively. Farming experience and education positively, whereas membership in farmer-based organisations negatively influenced farmers’ choice of FRI services. Stakeholder efforts should concentrate more on training farmers in mushroom cultivation technologies and the production and supply of spawns. Farmers who do not belong to any FBO are strongly encouraged to join FBOs to access agricultural services like training on mushroom cultivation technologies and extension and farm visits at reduced cost to enhance commercial mushroom production.