Determinants of Soybean Yield-Enhancing Technology Adoption by Smallholder Soybean Farmers in Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana

This study analyzed determinants of soybean yield-enhancing technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Ghana’s Northern and Upper East Regions, focusing on innovations promoted under the IITA-led N2Africa (2014–2018) and SSPiNG (2021–2024) projects. This study was guided by the adoption theory, which offers a micro-level perspective on change, focusing on individual units within a system, and the diffusion theory, which examines how innovations spread across populations, highlighting the roles of time, social influence, and collective adaptation. This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional research design. Using a multi-stage sampling design, data were collected from 620 farmers, sampled from 35607 farmers, from four districts, using surveys through semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data, analyzed with SPSS v28.0 using descriptive statistics and a Probit regression model, revealed that farm size strongly and significantly correlated with the adoption of certified seeds (r = 0.318), fertilizer (r = 0.378), inoculants (r = 0.241), mechanized planters (r = 0.498), and Good Agricultural Practices (r = 0.498) at p < 0.05. Education, age, extension access, and support systems were also significant predictors. The results concluded that access to credit showed a negative but insignificant effect, suggesting that financial resources alone are insufficient without complementary knowledge, support, and infrastructure. The findings underscore the need for integrated government, research, non-governmental organization (NGO), and private-sector interventions to enhance dissemination, farmer capacity, and access to quality inputs, thereby boosting adoption rates and soybean productivity.