Effects of education on the agricultural productivity of farmers in the offinso municipality

The study investigated the effects of education on agricultural productivity of farmers; how the varying kinds of education affect agricultural productivity; to suggest policy interventions that will facilitate the use of education to increase agricultural productivity and how educational level of farmers in the Municipality can be improved. Eight farming communities were involved in the study. They were selected based on their location in the Municipality, predominant economic activity, access to extension services and non- formal education. Data was obtained from 100 farmers in these communities and also from the Municipal Agricultural Development Unit as well as Non- formal Education Section of the Offinso Municipal Educational Directorate. The major finding in the study were that the as educational level increases, output increases with secondary school education having the highest returns on agricultural productivity. Extension service has a greater impact on agricultural productivity than formal education even though coverage is low. The study concluded that education is important to the improvement of agricultural productivity such that formal education opens the mind of the farmer to knowledge, non- formal education gives the farmer hands- on training and better methods of farming and informal education keeps the farmer abreast with changing innovations and ideas and allows farmer to share experience gained. It is recommended the government improves the quality of formal education, extension services and adult literacy classes in the Municipality. Factors that affect productivity such as transportation, access to input and credit facility to farmers should be improved.