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Adoption studies have mainly focused on econometric and quantitative modelling that usually assume smallholder farmers competently adopt agricultural technologies. This study provides novel insights on user competency and frequency of usage of mobile telephony for agricultural extension services among smallholder farmers and agricultural extension agents (AEAs) and key factors that impede the adoption process. The study examined users' competencies and mobile phone usage frequency for access and delivery of agricultural extension services in Eastern Ghana. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 95 AEAs and 330 smallholder farmers in five districts of the Eastern region of Ghana and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analyses were performed to analyse the data. Results showed substantial differences between AEAs and smallholder farmers' competency in the use of mobile phones for agricultural extension services. Socio-demographic characteristics of smallholder farmers and AEAs correlated with usage frequency of mobile phones for access to extension services and delivery. Educational level, amount of weekly expenditure of money on mobile phone use, mobile phone network quality, income level, and age of both AEAs and smallholder farmers had positive and significant correlations with frequency of usage of mobile phones. User competency differentially impacts the frequency of mobile phone use in agricultural extension services between AEAs and smallholders. High call tariffs and access to recharge cards are major challenges in using mobile phones for agricultural extension in the study areas. The study shows components of the adoption theory of compatibility, and complexity where an innovation fits within the socio-cultural framework and perceived difficulty of use. Thus, the frequent use of voice calls is indicative of early stages of the diffusion process and may diversify into other applications in the future. Farmer-based organisations should be resourced to support training of farmers to use mobile phones to improve access to agricultural information dissemination. Integrating voice-based agricultural information services (IVRs) into the current SMS-based agricultural extension services in Ghana could potentially boost extension service delivery to smallholder farmers in the Eastern region and across the country. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture may partner with key stakeholders and mobile service providers to offer hands-on capacity building to smallholder farmers and AEAs in video calling/conferencing, multimedia service, and social media to enhance their competencies for improved agricultural extension services. Key words: Agricultural extension agents, agritech, e-extension, mobile phone application, smallholder farmers, Ghana, INTRODUCTION Through various information communication technologies (ICTs), the evolution of traditional societies worldwide into information societies and relationships in the 21st century has significantly changed [1, 2]. Use of modern [...]

Quality seeds of improved local genotypes is an important input for increasing the productivity of groundnut in Ghana. The existing means of meeting groundnut seed requirements, especially by smallholder farmers, have serious challenges with timely supply and access to these improved genotypes as a result of the limited participation of the private sector and the self-pollinated nature of the crop. Smallholder farmers who take the initiative to store their own seeds, have challenges with storage fungi and aflatoxin contamination. Farmers' groundnut seed stocks have shown that improvement in seed quality and farmers' seed management requires maintaining healthy seed stock. Toxicogenic fungi and mycotoxins have been reported in several human and animal health disorders and are major contaminants of groundnut seeds during storage. Some level of success has, however, been achieved from earlier studies to evaluate the efficacy of some plant botanicals for preserving shelled groundnuts. However, for smallholder on-farm safety, such phyto-based preservation methods rather reduce groundnut seed embryo vigour and germination rates. Designing and developing economically appropriate storage solution (practices) for maintaining seed integrity for use requires evidence-based research and an eco-friendly approach. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of using jute bag (JB) and interlaced polyethylene jute bag (IPJB) combinations for the storage of groundnut seeds (varieties) against fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination under ambient storage conditions. The study was undertaken at the Department of Biochemistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. Seeds were packaged and stored either in jute bags (JB) or interlaced polyethylene jute bags (IPJB) at ambient conditions over four months' period. All seeds of groundnut varieties were partly colonised by a range of Aspergillus, Fusarium and Rhizopus spp of fungi. Aflatoxins were detected in only Nkosour (148.21 ppb) while Adepa and Kwame Danso recorded elevated levels of aflatoxin B1 (45.918 ppb) and B2 (410.974 ppb) at four months after storage (MAS). Results indicate that, the IPJB packaging was effective for short-term storage only, while the level of pathogen infection and aflatoxin contamination recorded was low. However, none of the packages evaluated proved exceptionally efficient. Irrespective of the storage package used, Mireku, Konkoma, Nkate Broni, Kumawu Local, Shitaochi, Azizivi, and Jenkaah recorded biologically and economically insignificant levels of aflatoxins. Thus, planting these groundnut varieties by smallholder farmers may offer them some level of security from aflatoxin contamination and loss of seed quality. Key words: Mycotoxin, storage pests, postharvest damage, groundnut, legumes, postharvest handling, fungi, Ghana, INTRODUCTION Groundnut is an important grain legume, widely cultivated both in the Guinea Savanna and Forest agro-ecological zones of Ghana. The forest zone is characterised by a long rainy period, [...]