Patrick Appiah - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Patrick Appiah

Research paper thumbnail of An Assessment of Performance Appraisal System in Savings and Loans Companies in Ghana: Evidence from Kumasi Metropolis

This study seeks to assess the performance appraisal system in savings and loans companies in Kum... more This study seeks to assess the performance appraisal system in savings and loans companies in Kumasi Metropolis. In all 120 respondents were selected for the study from five Savings and Loans companies. Data was gathered through the use of questionnaires, and descriptive inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. This result revealed that a large proportion of the respondents are aware of performance policies. However only a few of them are knowledgeable about the policies hence employees’ exposure to the appraisal policies and procedures might be due to chance rather than the companies being proactive in educating their employees on the policies and procedures. The study also revealed that performance appraisal has a positive relationship with training and development. Hence, management commitment to the performance appraisal process will lead to a more than proportionate increase in employee training and development. Managers must therefore put in place measures that wil...

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research recommended maize production practices in Ashanti region, Ghana

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2021

PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens househol... more PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens household food security in Ghana. Low adoption of improved maize production technologies coupled with poor compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recommended maize production practices is identified as the cause of low yields. This study assessed farmers' compliance with CSIR recommended production practices and its effects on yield.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey of 150 respondents were interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics, awareness and compliance indices, probit model and Garret ranking technique were the methods of analysis employed in the study.FindingsThe results showed that farmers are highly aware, have adopted and hardly comply with standards of applications of CSIR recommended production practices. Farm size, age, educational level and female gender significantly influenced compliance ...

Research paper thumbnail of Professional and technical competencies needed by Agricultural Extention Agents in the Western and Ashanti Region of Ghana

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness and Knowledge Level of Swine Flu among Pig Farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of swine flu (H1N1) among 100 pig farmers in the ... more This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of swine flu (H1N1) among 100 pig farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. The study found out that 99% of the re spondents were aware of the current swine flu outbreak and their main source of information w as the radio. The respondents had a moderate knowledge level on swine flu. Age, marital status, educational level, household size, affiliation to pig farmers' association, flock size, years of pig farming experience and type of labour were found to be significantly related to th e knowledge level of the respondents. The study recommends that educational campaigns should be organised to update the pig farmers about the swine flu disease.

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption impact of maize seed technology on farm profitability: evidence from Ghana

Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

PurposeThe paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. I... more PurposeThe paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. It assesses both the revenue and cost implication of the adopted technology on farmers' welfare. The study aims to expand the domain of farm investment assessment analysis by including a broader range of production outcome indicators than is normally found in the adoption impact on farm profitability literature.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an empirical study using field survey data. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 400 maize farmers across four regions of Ghana. The survey was complemented with focus group discussions in each region with participants representing male and female farmers cultivating maize on a commercial basis. The data captured detail household level (i.e. demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) as well as farm-level information on maize production (i.e. input use and farm output).FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights a...

Research paper thumbnail of Rabbit technologies: Adoption studies in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

African Journal of Agricultural Research, Jun 4, 2011

The study focused on identifying the main factors affecting the adoption of technologies in the r... more The study focused on identifying the main factors affecting the adoption of technologies in the rabbit industry. Data was collected through the use of the snowball sampling technique. The stocking technology was the highest adopted technology by the rabbit farmers. There is a clear evidence to prove that overall adoption of rabbit technologies among rabbit farmers was low. Adoption of rabbit technologies was dependent on age, marital status, type of farming and main purpose of entering the rabbit business. Majority of the respondents were faced with time constraints in rabbit technology adoption. Technology oriented programmes must still be organised and intensified among rabbit farmers since overall adoption among rabbit farmers was low.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of the influence of business loans on socioeconomic status of women beneficiaries of credit unions in the Kumasi metropolis

The economic and social benefits derived by women who join credit unions was measured in terms of... more The economic and social benefits derived by women who join credit unions was measured in terms of the state of their businesses, income levels, monthly savings and the financial contribution of beneficiaries towards dependants’ education. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 50 women who had obtained business loans from the Credit Union within the time period of June 2009 to July 2010 financial year. The study showed a significant influence of loans on the socioeconomic status of the women beneficiaries of loans.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Farm Record Keeping Behaviour among Small-Scale Poultry Farmers in the Ga East Municipality

Journal of Agricultural Science, 2010

The study sought to investigate the farm record keeping behaviour among small-scale poultry farme... more The study sought to investigate the farm record keeping behaviour among small-scale poultry farmers in the Ga East Municipality. Data was collected by the use of the simple random sampling technique. All the poultry farmers interviewed kept at least production and financial records. The chi-square test of independence showed that farm record keeping was independent of age, educational level, experience in poultry farming, farmer status, number of birds owned by respondents and respondents' membership of a farmer association. The reason why most of the farmers did not keep all the farm records was because they assert that those records were not beneficial to them. An award for the best farm record keeper must be instituted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in collaboration with other non-governmental agencies to help boost farmers' interest in keeping farm records.

Research paper thumbnail of A note on the ease of handling and flight distance of Bos indicus, Bos taurus and their crossbreds

Animal Production, 1992

Ease of handling (time to enter and exit scales and dip, and temperament scores) and flight dista... more Ease of handling (time to enter and exit scales and dip, and temperament scores) and flight distance were studied in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle and their crossbreds. At one research station (LS), 20 cows and 20 female calves, each of N'dama and West African Shorthorn (WASH) cattle were used. At another research station (BRS), 15 cows each of N'dama, Holstein and their crossbreds (NH) were used for the study. In addition a further 20 cows and 20 female calves of the N'dama breed were studied at BRS for comparison with the N'dama at LS. There were no significant differences in ease of handling and flight distance between N'dama and WASH and between N'dama at LS and at BRS. There were significant differences between N'dama, Holstein and NH cows in ease of handling and flight distance. Cows took a shorter time to enter but generally a longer time to exit a scale, had a shorter flight distance and a lower temperament score (P < 0·01) than calves.

Research paper thumbnail of Social behaviour at and around oestrus of N'dama cows treated with prostaglandin F2α analogue, Cloprostenol

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1992

Fourteen N'dama cows treated with Cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F2a (PGF2ot) analogue, were obser... more Fourteen N'dama cows treated with Cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F2a (PGF2ot) analogue, were observed for social and oestrus behaviour. The cows were given two intramuscular injections of PGF2a 11 days apart and were then observed continuously 18 h after each injection (treatment) for 7 days. The proportion of cows showing standing oestrus were 85.7% and 92.9% in Treatments 1 and 2, respectively. Agonistic behaviours (threats, butts and fights) declined significantly (P< 0.05) while amicable behaviours (play) signifcantly increased between Treatments 1 and 2. Mounting activity and duration of oestrus significantly increased while sniffing, licking and rubbing activities significantly declined between the two treatments. Dominance Value (DV) and Index of Dominance Activities (DAI) determined within each treatment were not stable across treatments. Live weight, but not age was significantly (P< 0.05) correlated with DV (r= 0.542-0.647) and DAI (r= 0.588-0.634). There was a strong allelomimetic tendency in the herd with animals forming a cohesive group most times during grazing and resting. Within this group some cows were strongly attached to each other and this was not disturbed by oestrus. Neither agonistic interactions received nor DV or DAI were significantly correlated with mounts received or oestrus duration. Cows coming into oestrus around the same time tended to be preferred mounting associates.

Research paper thumbnail of Oestrous response of trypanotolerant N'Dama cows after treatment with prostaglandin F2α analogue (cloprostenol) in the humid forest zone of Ghana

Animal Reproduction Science, 1993

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of cloprostenol, an analogue of prostaglandin F2a ... more A study was undertaken to determine the effect of cloprostenol, an analogue of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) on the oestrous response of trypanotolerant N'Dama beef cows in the humid forest zone of Ghana. Fourteen N'Dama cows were selected for use after first being examined and diagnosed as being in the luteal phase of their cycles. The cows were then observed for oestrous response for 7 days following each cloprostenol injection. The proportions of cows which manifested standing oestrus after the first and second PGF2a injections were 85.7% and 92.9% respectively. The mean post-injection intervals to onset of standing oestrus after the first and second injections were 71.04 + 3.2 h and 55.4 + 2.0 h respectively (P< 0.001). No differences were evident in duration or intensity ofoestrus. The first service pregnancy rate for 13 cows which manifested natural oestrus about 24 days after the second treatment was 84.6%. It was concluded that cloprostenol causes effective synchronisation of oestrus in cyclic N'Dama cows.

Research paper thumbnail of An Assessment of Performance Appraisal System in Savings and Loans Companies in Ghana: Evidence from Kumasi Metropolis

This study seeks to assess the performance appraisal system in savings and loans companies in Kum... more This study seeks to assess the performance appraisal system in savings and loans companies in Kumasi Metropolis. In all 120 respondents were selected for the study from five Savings and Loans companies. Data was gathered through the use of questionnaires, and descriptive inferential statistics was used to analyze the data. This result revealed that a large proportion of the respondents are aware of performance policies. However only a few of them are knowledgeable about the policies hence employees’ exposure to the appraisal policies and procedures might be due to chance rather than the companies being proactive in educating their employees on the policies and procedures. The study also revealed that performance appraisal has a positive relationship with training and development. Hence, management commitment to the performance appraisal process will lead to a more than proportionate increase in employee training and development. Managers must therefore put in place measures that wil...

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption and compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research recommended maize production practices in Ashanti region, Ghana

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2021

PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens househol... more PurposeThere is a huge gap between actual and achievable yields of maize which threatens household food security in Ghana. Low adoption of improved maize production technologies coupled with poor compliance with Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recommended maize production practices is identified as the cause of low yields. This study assessed farmers' compliance with CSIR recommended production practices and its effects on yield.Design/methodology/approachUsing a structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional survey of 150 respondents were interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics, awareness and compliance indices, probit model and Garret ranking technique were the methods of analysis employed in the study.FindingsThe results showed that farmers are highly aware, have adopted and hardly comply with standards of applications of CSIR recommended production practices. Farm size, age, educational level and female gender significantly influenced compliance ...

Research paper thumbnail of Professional and technical competencies needed by Agricultural Extention Agents in the Western and Ashanti Region of Ghana

Research paper thumbnail of Awareness and Knowledge Level of Swine Flu among Pig Farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of swine flu (H1N1) among 100 pig farmers in the ... more This study assessed the awareness and knowledge of swine flu (H1N1) among 100 pig farmers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. The study found out that 99% of the re spondents were aware of the current swine flu outbreak and their main source of information w as the radio. The respondents had a moderate knowledge level on swine flu. Age, marital status, educational level, household size, affiliation to pig farmers' association, flock size, years of pig farming experience and type of labour were found to be significantly related to th e knowledge level of the respondents. The study recommends that educational campaigns should be organised to update the pig farmers about the swine flu disease.

Research paper thumbnail of Adoption impact of maize seed technology on farm profitability: evidence from Ghana

Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies

PurposeThe paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. I... more PurposeThe paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. It assesses both the revenue and cost implication of the adopted technology on farmers' welfare. The study aims to expand the domain of farm investment assessment analysis by including a broader range of production outcome indicators than is normally found in the adoption impact on farm profitability literature.Design/methodology/approachThe paper opted for an empirical study using field survey data. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 400 maize farmers across four regions of Ghana. The survey was complemented with focus group discussions in each region with participants representing male and female farmers cultivating maize on a commercial basis. The data captured detail household level (i.e. demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) as well as farm-level information on maize production (i.e. input use and farm output).FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights a...

Research paper thumbnail of Rabbit technologies: Adoption studies in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

African Journal of Agricultural Research, Jun 4, 2011

The study focused on identifying the main factors affecting the adoption of technologies in the r... more The study focused on identifying the main factors affecting the adoption of technologies in the rabbit industry. Data was collected through the use of the snowball sampling technique. The stocking technology was the highest adopted technology by the rabbit farmers. There is a clear evidence to prove that overall adoption of rabbit technologies among rabbit farmers was low. Adoption of rabbit technologies was dependent on age, marital status, type of farming and main purpose of entering the rabbit business. Majority of the respondents were faced with time constraints in rabbit technology adoption. Technology oriented programmes must still be organised and intensified among rabbit farmers since overall adoption among rabbit farmers was low.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of the influence of business loans on socioeconomic status of women beneficiaries of credit unions in the Kumasi metropolis

The economic and social benefits derived by women who join credit unions was measured in terms of... more The economic and social benefits derived by women who join credit unions was measured in terms of the state of their businesses, income levels, monthly savings and the financial contribution of beneficiaries towards dependants’ education. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 50 women who had obtained business loans from the Credit Union within the time period of June 2009 to July 2010 financial year. The study showed a significant influence of loans on the socioeconomic status of the women beneficiaries of loans.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Farm Record Keeping Behaviour among Small-Scale Poultry Farmers in the Ga East Municipality

Journal of Agricultural Science, 2010

The study sought to investigate the farm record keeping behaviour among small-scale poultry farme... more The study sought to investigate the farm record keeping behaviour among small-scale poultry farmers in the Ga East Municipality. Data was collected by the use of the simple random sampling technique. All the poultry farmers interviewed kept at least production and financial records. The chi-square test of independence showed that farm record keeping was independent of age, educational level, experience in poultry farming, farmer status, number of birds owned by respondents and respondents' membership of a farmer association. The reason why most of the farmers did not keep all the farm records was because they assert that those records were not beneficial to them. An award for the best farm record keeper must be instituted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in collaboration with other non-governmental agencies to help boost farmers' interest in keeping farm records.

Research paper thumbnail of A note on the ease of handling and flight distance of Bos indicus, Bos taurus and their crossbreds

Animal Production, 1992

Ease of handling (time to enter and exit scales and dip, and temperament scores) and flight dista... more Ease of handling (time to enter and exit scales and dip, and temperament scores) and flight distance were studied in Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle and their crossbreds. At one research station (LS), 20 cows and 20 female calves, each of N'dama and West African Shorthorn (WASH) cattle were used. At another research station (BRS), 15 cows each of N'dama, Holstein and their crossbreds (NH) were used for the study. In addition a further 20 cows and 20 female calves of the N'dama breed were studied at BRS for comparison with the N'dama at LS. There were no significant differences in ease of handling and flight distance between N'dama and WASH and between N'dama at LS and at BRS. There were significant differences between N'dama, Holstein and NH cows in ease of handling and flight distance. Cows took a shorter time to enter but generally a longer time to exit a scale, had a shorter flight distance and a lower temperament score (P < 0·01) than calves.

Research paper thumbnail of Social behaviour at and around oestrus of N'dama cows treated with prostaglandin F2α analogue, Cloprostenol

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1992

Fourteen N'dama cows treated with Cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F2a (PGF2ot) analogue, were obser... more Fourteen N'dama cows treated with Cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F2a (PGF2ot) analogue, were observed for social and oestrus behaviour. The cows were given two intramuscular injections of PGF2a 11 days apart and were then observed continuously 18 h after each injection (treatment) for 7 days. The proportion of cows showing standing oestrus were 85.7% and 92.9% in Treatments 1 and 2, respectively. Agonistic behaviours (threats, butts and fights) declined significantly (P< 0.05) while amicable behaviours (play) signifcantly increased between Treatments 1 and 2. Mounting activity and duration of oestrus significantly increased while sniffing, licking and rubbing activities significantly declined between the two treatments. Dominance Value (DV) and Index of Dominance Activities (DAI) determined within each treatment were not stable across treatments. Live weight, but not age was significantly (P< 0.05) correlated with DV (r= 0.542-0.647) and DAI (r= 0.588-0.634). There was a strong allelomimetic tendency in the herd with animals forming a cohesive group most times during grazing and resting. Within this group some cows were strongly attached to each other and this was not disturbed by oestrus. Neither agonistic interactions received nor DV or DAI were significantly correlated with mounts received or oestrus duration. Cows coming into oestrus around the same time tended to be preferred mounting associates.

Research paper thumbnail of Oestrous response of trypanotolerant N'Dama cows after treatment with prostaglandin F2α analogue (cloprostenol) in the humid forest zone of Ghana

Animal Reproduction Science, 1993

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of cloprostenol, an analogue of prostaglandin F2a ... more A study was undertaken to determine the effect of cloprostenol, an analogue of prostaglandin F2a (PGF2a) on the oestrous response of trypanotolerant N'Dama beef cows in the humid forest zone of Ghana. Fourteen N'Dama cows were selected for use after first being examined and diagnosed as being in the luteal phase of their cycles. The cows were then observed for oestrous response for 7 days following each cloprostenol injection. The proportions of cows which manifested standing oestrus after the first and second PGF2a injections were 85.7% and 92.9% respectively. The mean post-injection intervals to onset of standing oestrus after the first and second injections were 71.04 + 3.2 h and 55.4 + 2.0 h respectively (P< 0.001). No differences were evident in duration or intensity ofoestrus. The first service pregnancy rate for 13 cows which manifested natural oestrus about 24 days after the second treatment was 84.6%. It was concluded that cloprostenol causes effective synchronisation of oestrus in cyclic N'Dama cows.