Factors enhancing smallholders farmers` access to masara n’arziki project in the northern region of Ghana

Farmers in Savelugu-Nanton district are peasant in nature, only few are into smallholder farming for sales with the support of Non-Government Organisation Masara N’Arziki. The company gives input credit support to smallholder farmer and in return buy their produced. This study assessed factors that influence access to the project and the challenges participants in the project encountered using probit regression model and Kendall`s W. 195 smallholder farmers were selected comprising of 118 participants and 77 non-participants. Significant mean difference was arrived for participants and non-participants’ education, household size, farm size, extension and farming experience. Access to Masara project was significantly but positive determined by farmers` land size, access to agricultural extension officer, years of experience of the farmer in the cultivation of maize and farmers` participation in off farm activities while household size and farmers` access to other agricultural project were negative determinants of access to the project. However, the age of the farmer, the farmer marital status and number of years the farmer attend school (education) do not significantly determine farmers` access to Masara farmer support project. The Kendall`s W indicates strong agreement of 847% among the participants on the ranking of the challenges. It is recommended that development partners should close the gap in the study area by offering credit in cash or in kind to smallholder farmers at a relatively cheaper input cost and attractive price for output to boost their moral for farming to ensure food security in the area.