Population density, urbanisation and agricultural mechanisation in modern Ghana

Abstract Farmers' technological choices take place within farming systems that are shaped by population pressure, connectivity to urban markets and agro‐ecological conditions. The relationship between these drivers agricultural technology use is ambiguous. On the one hand, growth can increase supply of labour, driving down wage rates reducing incentives for mechanisation. other rural–urban movements people reduce rural labour while simultaneously up demand food hence Past theories mechanisation have explained low adoption machinery in land‐abundant cereal production SSA terms drivers. However, recent empirical observations find extensive mechanised ploughing small, medium large‐scale farmers Ghana. Examining Ghanaian experience thus shed new light on A large household survey dataset covering eight districts combined with geo‐spatial data population, proximity factors consider whether existing able explain farm‐level decisions this context. analysis finds a farmer's decision associated lower density centres. In northern Ghana, change as important farm characteristics understanding cross‐sectional patterns adoption.