RETRACTED: Does contract farming improve rice yield In Ghana? (Retracted Article)

Contract farming has gained grounds in Ghana's rice production sub-sector but there is no conclusive evidence on whether or not the model improves rice yield. This study sought to identify factors influencing farmers' decision to participate in contract farming. Also, it estimated the effects of contract farming on rice yield. The study used a cross-sectional data. Heckman sample selection model was used to estimate the effects of contract farming on rice yield. The study showed that education, irrigation, extension contact and improved seed positively influenced contract farming engagement. Farming experience and farm size had negative relationship with contract farming engagement. Whilst fertilizer, capital, irrigation, improved seed and contract farming engagement highly increased rice yield, seed, labour and household size negatively affected yield. Conclusively, contract farming improves rice yield. It is recommended that farmers should be encouraged to go into contract farming. Extension service intensification and education are critical in this regard. The efforts of government in providing subsidized fertilizer and improved seeds to farmers through planting for food and jobs programme should be enhanced through contractual arrangement and the use of nucleus-farmer-out-grower model. The one-village-one-dam policy of government should include the establishment of irrigation facilities.