Planting Time and Agricultural Land Productivity: The Case of Puna Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) in Oti Region of Ghana

Abstract

Yam production is heavily reliant on rainfall. Whilst some farmers plant from January to March before the onset of rains, others plant after the onset of rains in April. The impact of planting time on land productivity of puna yam (Dioscorea rotundata) was assessed using endogenous switching regression. Primary data was collected from yam farmers in the Oti Region of Ghana. The study revealed that planting of yam in April after onset of rains increases land productivity of puna yam. Aside planting time, capital investment, labour, less crowding of seed yams, planting on freshly raised mounds and extension contact enhance puna yam productivity. Therefore, farmers should plant puna yam in April after the onset of rains to obtain higher land productivity. Lastly, extension service intensification and access to weather information should be promoted to enhance yam productivity.