Adoption of blockchain technology and agricultural supply chain efficiency: Insights from Wa East District, Ghana

Abstract

This study examines the effect of blockchain technology adoption on supply chain management in the agricultural sector of Ghana's Wa East District, with particular attention to transaction costs, supply chain transparency, and regulatory compliance. A quantitative research design was employed, using regression analysis to test the relationship between blockchain adoption and supply chain performance. The findings reveal a statistically significant relationship between blockchain adoption and transaction cost, a significant relationship between blockchain adoption and transparency, and a significant relationship between blockchain adoption and regulatory framework compliance. Specifically, blockchain adoption was found to reduce transaction costs through automation and disintermediation, enhance transparency through secure and tamper proof traceability mechanisms, and strengthen regulatory compliance by enabling real time auditing and immutable record keeping. The findings suggest that blockchain adoption offers a strategic pathway for addressing longstanding inefficiencies in agricultural supply chains, particularly in rural and fragmented systems, by improving efficiency, accountability, and governance. For policymakers and practitioners, the study recommends targeted investment in digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, farmer education, and collaborative partnerships to support sustainable blockchain adoption. The originality of this study lies in its empirical evidence from a rural Ghanaian context, contributing to the limited body of knowledge on blockchain adoption in developing country agricultural supply chains and highlighting its transformative potential for reshaping agricultural value chains in resource constrained settings.