Examining the Impact of Row Planting on Labor Use for Sustainable Food Production Among Maize Farmers in Rural Ghana

ABSTRACT Smallholder farmers are reverting to traditional production methods due to the high opportunity costs and unintended consequences of new technologies. This study focuses on row planting technology, which is labor‐intensive and slow without mechanized operations. Data from 224 nonadopters and 237 adopters of row planting were analyzed using ordinary least squares and instrumental variable techniques. The results show varying effects of row planting on yield and income across different agroecological zones, with labor use being endogenously determined. Comparing labor requirements, we found that row planting demands an additional 14.79 man‐hours per acre over broadcasting seeds. The current dissemination approach of sustainable intensification technologies such as row planting prioritizes yield‐enhancing technologies over mechanization, hindering adoption. We propose integrating small‐scale mechanization, such as small‐scale planters and harvesters, to reduce labor hours and promote sustainable intensification technology adoption.