Do Perceptions of Rent-seeking Affect Farmers’ Attitude to Participating in Agricultural Input Support Programmes?

Abstract Rent-seeking behaviour continues to hinder the success of agricultural input support programmes (AISPs) as a food security strategy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, empirical studies on the effect of rent-seeking on participation in AISPs are rare. Our research examines the influence of perceptions of rent-seeking behaviour and attitudes, on participation in AISPs. We used multistage sampling to select 540 recipients and non-recipients of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme in northern Ghana. Results from our logit analyses show that farmers who perceived high inherent rewards in PFJ (positive attitudes) were more likely to participate in the programme, and vice versa. However, perceptions of political and strategic rent-seeking significantly reduce farmers' positive attitudes and the likelihood of participation. PFJ managers can use digital technology, rather than paper vouchers, to increase the transparency of input distribution in the programme to minimise rent-seeking and its perception, thereby increasing farmers' positive attitudes towards participation.