North-West University
Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology
This paper examined farmers' assessment of donor support for rain-fed Lowland Rice Production in Ashanti and Northern Regions in Ghana. A simple random sampling due to proportion was used to select 210 participating farmers from the two... more
This paper examined farmers' assessment of donor support for rain-fed Lowland Rice Production in Ashanti and Northern Regions in Ghana. A simple random sampling due to proportion was used to select 210 participating farmers from the two regions. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire designed based on the objectives of the study and from literature. The sections of the questionnaire include the challenges facing the project, cooperation and adoption levels, its impact on the outputs and the funding requirement for the project. The data collected was subjected to descriptive analysis with the use of bar charts and frequency distribution tables. The results show that prominent challenges indicated by the respondents about the projects are funding, weather dependent, land tenure system, credit implementation challenge, farmer group, work system cohesion and project staff strength. Adoption rate for project interventions was high for rice cultivation activities including land development activities though farmers complained of itsue to its drudgery. Farmers yield increased to an average of 4.9ton/ha and 2.9ton/ha level for Ashanti and Northern respectively despite the challenges. The study recommends increase in project fund and also, farmer group strengthening, improving on the activities of farming support systems to bring processors and marketers and further collaboration with other relevant stakeholders to complete the rice value chain.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
The study examined household welfare among migrant farmers in Ashanti region. This is predicated on the fact that there has been increase in the rate of internal migration within Ghana to the region for rice cultivation purposes. A simple... more
The study examined household welfare among migrant farmers in Ashanti region. This is predicated on the fact that there has been increase in the rate of internal migration within Ghana to the region for rice cultivation purposes. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 158 migrant farmers cultivating rice in Ashanti region of Ghana. A questionnaire was developed based on the objectives of the study to collect data on rice production as a livelihood option, personal characteristics of migrant farmers and constraints of migrant farmers in the region. Data collected were subjected to analysis with SPSS version 20 using frequency counts, percentages and probit regression analysis was used to isolate the determinants of migrant farmers' household welfare status. The results show that majority were males, from Northern region of Ghana above 35 years of age having basic level education, married, using family labour is the main source of labour, with at least 10 dependants having between 1 and 20 years experience in rice cultivation. The major avenue for marketing is millers. The proportion of farmers who received at least GHC 1000 per season was more for rice than maize and cocoa. The major constraint facing migrant rice farmers is tenancy agreements with their land/valley owners. Significant determinants of household welfare status were number of dependants, labour sources, education level, and land tenure. The sign for each coefficient is consistent with the expectation; that is, the probability of having high household welfare increases if labour sources, number of dependents, land tenure (ownership) increases.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
The study examines rice production as a livelihood option among migrant farmers in Ashanti Region of Ghana. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 158 migrant farmers cultivating rice in Ashanti region of Ghana. A... more
The study examines rice production as a livelihood option among migrant farmers in Ashanti Region of Ghana. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 158 migrant farmers cultivating rice in Ashanti region of Ghana. A questionnaire was developed based on the objectives of the study to collect data on rice production as a livelihood option, personal characteristics of migrant farmers and constraints of migrant farmers in the region. Data collected were subjected to analysis with SPSS version 20 using frequency counts, percentages and probit regression analysis was used to isolate the determinants of migrant farmers' household welfare status. The results show that majority were males, from Northern region of Ghana above 35 years of age having basic level education, married, using family labour is the main source of labour, with at least 10 dependants having between 1 and 20 years experience in rice cultivation. The major avenue for marketing is millers. The proportion of farmers who received at least GHC 1000 per season was more for rice than maize and cocoa. The major constraint facing migrant rice farmers is tenancy agreements with their land/valley owners. Significant determinants land tenure status were these were labour sources, years of farming experience in rice, and reason for rice cultivation.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
The study assessed the socio economic effects of mining on agriculture in the Asutifi district of the Brong Ahafo region. From 117 communities in the district, three communities namely Kenyasi, Ntotroso, and Ola Resettlement were randomly... more
The study assessed the socio economic effects of mining on agriculture in the Asutifi district of the Brong Ahafo region. From 117 communities in the district, three communities namely Kenyasi, Ntotroso, and Ola Resettlement were randomly selected. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers for the study. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire designed based on the objectives of the study and from literature. The data collected was subjected to descriptive analysis with the use of bar charts and frequency distribution tables. The results of the socio-economic effect of mining on smallholder agriculture in the area include displacement of people and land, increased migration into mining areas, environmental damages related to water quality water quantity, tailing management, noise and dust pollution as well as ecosystem disturbances, shortage of labour availability to agriculture, and contamination of crops as well as reduction in crops' yield.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
The study focused on how flood disasters affected livelihood systems in Tolon/Kumbungu District. The study was carried out in six sampled communities namely Tampia No. 1 and No. 2, Nawuni, Adayili, Afayili, Kuli and Shegbini. It examined... more
The study focused on how flood disasters affected livelihood systems in Tolon/Kumbungu District. The study was carried out in six sampled communities namely Tampia No. 1 and No. 2, Nawuni, Adayili, Afayili, Kuli and Shegbini. It examined the nature of floods, damage caused and their effects on livelihoods and food security and their coping mechanisms after floods. Twenty-two disaster prone communities where purposively selected and the simple random technique was applied to select the six communities out of the twenty-two and descriptive statistics was used in the analysis using SPSS version 17. The study discovered that floods in the district were seasonal occurring in August/September every year and mainly caused by the opening of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso. It was also realised that floods destroyed farmlands of the people in the study area every year leading to instances of total crop destruction and failure. Few respondents 21.7% out of 120 indicated that floods caused erosion that resulted in the creation of galleys in the communities and on their farmlands or wash away soil nutrients which led to crop failure. A chi square test shows a significance level and relationship of 0.001 of the variables of yields before and after flooding which contributes to low crop productivity and food security.The study recommended that the disaster response committee should be equipped and resourced adequately to respond quickly to any disaster occurrence. It is further recommended that the committee should embark on mass sensitisation and advocacy programmes to create awareness in the vulnerable communities and advising people to live distant away from the river bangs and flood prone areas. Importantly, the Government of Ghana should dialogue its Burkina Faso counterpart to ensure that people living around the Volta basin be warned ahead of time of spilling the Bagre dam in Burkina Faso.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
This paper examined a comparative economic analysis of groundnut oil and soya milk production in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region. Purposive sampling, Stratified random sampling and Snowball were the techniques used for data... more
This paper examined a comparative economic analysis of groundnut oil and soya milk production in the Tamale Metropolis of the Northern Region. Purposive sampling, Stratified random sampling and Snowball were the techniques used for data collection. The data collected was subjected to descriptive analysis with the use of pie charts, bar charts and frequency distribution tables with a sample size of 70 respondents for groundnut oil processors and soya milk producers. The study revealed that a groundnut processor requires an average investment cost of GH¢ 487.74 whiles a soya milk producer may incur an estimated cost of GH¢ 423.2, with a weekly cost of GH¢ 350.57 and GH¢ 88.8 for groundnut and soya milk processing respectively. Estimated average total revenue of GH¢ 401.1 per week was recorded for groundnut oil as against GH¢ 109 per week for Soya milk. The estimated weekly profits for groundnut oil production was GH¢ 50.5 per week and GH¢ 20.2 per week for soya milk production. The profitability analysis revealed a benefit cost ratio of 1.1 and 1.2 for groundnut oil and soya milk production respectively. This shows that even though both proved profitable, soya milk production was more profitable than groundnut oil production considering the cost drivers. The study recommends that processors/entrepreneurs should form groups or associations to access credit and inputs from financial institutions, government should assist financial institutions to lower interest rates for lending and repayments and preservatives and quality of the soy milk should be researched further.
- by Eliasu Mumuni
- •
Shea tree is an indigenous and exclusive asset in West and Central Africa and particularly wide spread in the Northern part of Ghana. This study examined the effects of shea butter processing on the environment in the Tamale Metropolis... more
Shea tree is an indigenous and exclusive asset in West and Central Africa and particularly wide spread in the Northern part of Ghana. This study examined the effects of shea butter processing on the environment in the Tamale Metropolis and also analyzes the efficiency of resources used in shea butter processing for improved and traditional method of processing. Interviews, focus group discussions and field observation were used for the study with 126 respondents. Analytical tools used include descriptive statistics comprising charts; tables and frequency distribution with the use of SPPSS for the data analysis. The findings are that the semi-mechanized method is more suitable in terms of less and efficient resource maximization than the traditional method. The disposed slur inhibits plant growth and contributes to changing the soil structure. The results of the probit model reveal that labor (t=0.241, p<0.01), water (t=0.189, p<0.01), fuel wood (t=0.061, p<0.01) and processing experience (t= 0.152, p<0.01) showed a positive significant relationship with the efficiency of resources used for the processing methods. The sign for each coefficient is consistent with the expectation; that is, the probability of using more resources increases cost of processing and reduces efficiency of the processing methods.
- by Eliasu Mumuni and +1
- •
Background: This paper examines rice farmers' access to livelihood capitals (natural, financial, physical, social and human) and the relationship and propensity for entrepreneurship capacities amongst rice farmers in the northern and... more
Background: This paper examines rice farmers' access to livelihood capitals (natural, financial, physical, social and human) and the relationship and propensity for entrepreneurship capacities amongst rice farmers in the northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana. A simple random and purposive sampling method was used to select a sample size of 301 rice farmers in the two regions. A structured questionnaire was used in conducting the study. The data was analysed with IBM SPSS version 21 using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. Wilcoxon sign rank test, paired t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were also used for the analysis on the access to livelihoods, significance and relationship to entrepreneurial activities of the farmers. Results: Farmers' access to natural capitals was stronger. Similarly, the Wilcoxon sign rank test and test statistics for the physical capital also revealed a significant difference in the farmers' physical capitals with all the measured variables including irrigation infrastructure (z = −5.581; p = 0.000), processing facilities (z = −5.904; p = 0.000), and market access (z = −6.171; p = 0.000), after been exposed to the technology interventions. The test statistics shows significant difference in all the measured variables with the p value (p > 0.05) for the human capitals of the farmers. It also showed that farmers' credit from family and friends, access to bank loans and loans from farmer groups all increased from 47 to 52 %; 26 to 37 % and 28 to 78 %, respectively. Generally farmers' access to all the five livelihood capitals was significant and higher. On the access to livelihood capitals and its entrepreneurial abilities, natural capitals before (t = 1.789, p = 0.074), natural livelihood after (t = 1.664, p = 0.096), social capital after (t = 1.838, p = 0.066), and physical capital before (t = 2.87, p = 0.004) showed a significantly positive relationship with their entrepreneurial capacities. Conclusions: The study revealed that farmers' access to stronger livelihood capitals improves on their internal locus of control, improves their farming management abilities and ultimately boosts their agricultural entrepreneurial capabilities. The study recommends that farmers should leverage on their human capitals (farming skills taught them) to improving on all other livelihood capitals for better business sense and culture and entrepreneurial skills.
The talk and need for scientists to work together has been there for a long time. As the inter-linkages between society and the environment gets more apparent, complex and compelling; collaboration, cooperation and integration across... more
The talk and need for scientists to work together has been there for a long time. As the inter-linkages between society and the environment gets more apparent, complex and compelling; collaboration, cooperation and integration across multiple social and epistemological perspectives becomes more important. Scientific disciplines distinguished itself through different forms of interests, perspectives, assumptions, priorities, vocabularies, methodologies and communication styles. These elements together constitute professional knowledge communities at the level of disciplines or sub-disciplines into which they socialize. Disciplinary protectionism, low level of understanding of other disciplines, power control and beneficiaries of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary outputs often forms the basis for weaker collaborations. Breaking these barriers by working together in complex projects to solve real life problems using sustainable inter and transdisciplinary approaches are long overdue. This paper reviews the approaches to breaking disciplinary barriers and influence in complex projects by arguing that in addition to the way transdisciplinary research has been explored, other sets of concepts including social capital and research value chains can effectively enhance and strengthen the transdisciplinary narrative.
Shea tree is an indigenous and exclusive asset in West and Central Africa and particularly wide spread in the Northern part of Ghana. This study examined the effects of shea butter processing on the environment in the Tamale Metropolis... more
Shea tree is an indigenous and exclusive asset in West and Central Africa and particularly wide spread in the Northern part of Ghana. This study examined the effects of shea butter processing on the environment in the Tamale Metropolis and also analyzes the efficiency of resources used in shea butter processing for improved and traditional method of processing. Interviews, focus group discussions and field observation were used for the study with 126 respondents. Analytical tools used include descriptive statistics comprising charts; tables and frequency distribution with the use of SPPSS for the data analysis. The findings are that the semi-mechanized method is more suitable in terms of less and efficient resource maximization than the traditional method. The disposed slur inhibits plant growth and contributes to changing the soil structure. The results of the probit model reveal that labor (t=0.241, p<0.01), water (t=0.189, p<0.01), fuel wood (t=0.061, p<0.01) and process...
- by M. Jibreel and +3
- •
This paper reviews the approaches to breaking disciplinary barriers in complex projects by arguing that in addition to the way transdisciplinary research has been explored, other sets of concepts including social capital and research... more
This paper reviews the approaches to breaking disciplinary barriers in complex projects by arguing that in addition to the way transdisciplinary research has been explored, other sets of concepts including social capital and research value chains can effectively enhance and strengthen the transdisciplinary narrative. The need for scientists to work together have been there for a long time. As the inter-linkages between society and the environment gets more apparent, complex and compelling; collaboration, cooperation and integration across multiple social and epistemological perspectives become more important. Scientific disciplines distinguished it through different forms of interests, perspectives, assumptions, priorities, vocabularies, methodologies and communication styles. These elements together constitute professional knowledge communities at the level of disciplines or sub-disciplines into which they socialize. Disciplinary protectionism, low level of understanding of other disciplines, power control and beneficiaries of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary outputs often forms the basis for weaker collaborations. Breaking these barriers by working together in complex projects to solve real life problems using sustainable inter and transdisciplinary approaches are long overdue. Integrating ideas, perspective and people with different disciplines are continuous processes that require clarity of communication, patience, good leadership and consensus building. From the review it is clear that; it is not about the mechanics of organizations, projects or teams, or structures, ontologies and epistemologies of these disciplines that solves these real life problems, but by accepting the social networks and barriers affecting interdisciplinary communication; by generating social capital and cohesion, by effectively building teams and ensuring cultural understanding amongst all actors who have roles to play on the problem or project in question.
In this current dispensation, challenges of climate change, food insecurity, health complications and disasters all require knitted and transdisciplinary efforts in tackling. Social capital in organisations, research environment and... more
In this current dispensation, challenges of climate change, food insecurity, health complications and disasters all require knitted and transdisciplinary efforts in tackling. Social capital in organisations, research environment and society, in general, recognizes the need for social investment in relationships. The glue and bedrock of this phenomenon is trust and reciprocity in shaping the relationship amongst development actors. In interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environments, access to multiple resources, information networks (academic, non-academic) and communication are enhanced with a stronger social cohesion. Building networks mean that multifarious issues to be addressed will be sustainable as it encompasses critical perspectives from diverse actors. For transdisciplinary approaches to help in addressing complex real-life issues as positioned by the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the social glue factor and the collective participatory elements are critical to the narrative and discourse of sustainability. This paper tries to position an argument that, the social capital theory (SC) in transdisciplinary settings provides interactive and fluid support to multiple stakeholders and individual actors for a better sustainable goal.
The study seeks to examine the factors that influence the choice of climate variability adaptation strategies employed by maize farmers in the Mion District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Based on unfavourable climate experience, maize... more
The study seeks to examine the factors that influence the choice of climate variability adaptation strategies employed by maize farmers in the Mion District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Based on unfavourable climate experience, maize farmers in Ghana including farmers in the Mion District of the Northern region of Ghana, have been introduced to climate variability adaptation strategies to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate variability. The study used a multi-stage sampling technique to select 140 household respondents for the study. Ordered logit regression model was applied to identify factors influencing the choice of climate variability adaptation strategies. The findings revealed that the smallholder farmers in the district practice a range of climate variability adaptation strategies, which include changing planting dates, improved maize varieties, inorganic fertilizer application, making ridges, and diversifying into non-farm activities. The ordered probit model results revealed that the factors influencing farmers' choice of climate variability adaptation strategies include age, gender, income level, level of education of household head and membership of FBO. The study recommends policy focus on the adaptive capacity of maize farmers through input subsidy, access to credit, encouraging farmers to form groups, and sensitization of farmers on climate variability and climate change.
Public Relations (PR) practitioners are cited as being among the top three sources that perpetuate brown envelope journalism (Soli) in their dealings with journalists. The practice, thus, appears to have become a norm among PR... more
Public Relations (PR) practitioners are cited as being among the top three sources that perpetuate brown envelope journalism (Soli) in their dealings with journalists. The practice, thus, appears to have become a norm among PR practitioners and journalists (reporters) without recourse to the ethical implications of the practice. This study investigates the factors PR practitioners in Ghana consider when they engage in the phenomenon of Soli. The paper adopted the quantitative research approach and the survey design to investigate this phenomenon. Findings of the study were tested using the Binary and Ordered Probit regression models. The results showed no significant relationship between PR practitioners' knowledge of IPR (Ghana) code of ethics and the payment of Soli by PR practitioners. The results also showed a positive significant relationship between PR practitioners desire to obtain positive media coverage and payment of Soli by PR practitioners. The study recommended the promotion and enforcement of professional and organisational policies on inducement and a redefinition of the media relations function of PR practitioners.
- by Eliasu Mumuni and +2
- •
- Communication, Media Studies, Journalism
Background: Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Whilst some smallholder farmers are aware of this goal, others are not. The question... more
Background: Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Whilst some smallholder farmers are aware of this goal, others are not. The question that arises is whether or not awareness translates into food security. Therefore, this study assessed whether or not smallholder farmers' awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improves household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: The study used cross-sectional primary data collected from two districts and two municipalities in the region. An endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome was used to estimate the effects of smallholder farmers' awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on household food insecurity level. Results: The age of household head, distance of households to the regional capital, membership of farmer-based organizations, access to e-extension, education, and ownership of radio are the key drivers of farmers' awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2. The results from the endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome showed that households who are aware of the second goal are more food secure than their counterparts. Conclusions: It is therefore prudent for stakeholders promoting and championing Sustainable Development Goals to educate farmers on goal 2 as their awareness of the goal is critical to achieving food security.
It is an undeniable fact that large scale land acquisition for agricultural production and urban development in Ghana is on the upsurge. The receiving end of the effect of land acquisition on household livelihoods are those living on or... more
It is an undeniable fact that large scale land acquisition for agricultural production and urban development in Ghana is on the upsurge. The receiving end of the effect of land acquisition on household livelihoods are those living on or proximal to the acquired lands. Using primary data collected from four districts in the northern region of Ghana, this study estimated household livelihood security (HLS) index for households living in communities with and without large scale land acquisition. HLS index for the two groups were estimated using household livelihood framework. Welch's t-test was used to test the hypothesis that communities without land acquisition have greater HLS index than their counterparts in communities with land acquisition. Also, conditional recursive mixed-process (CMP) was used to estimate the effects of large scale land acquisition on HLS index. The findings evinced that food security index, economic security index, sanitation security index, water security index, health security index, shelter security index and social security index for households living in communities without land acquisition is significantly higher than their counterparts in communities with land acquisition. The results also revealed that land acquisition has significant negative effects on the livelihood of households. It is therefore recommended that pragmatic steps should be taken to sensitize the release of land by allodial land title holders to buyers. Allodial title holders of land should pay appropriate and reasonable compensation to usufruct title holders of land to minimise the effects of land acquisition on household livelihoods. Also, compensation or alternative employment should be provided to the community members for loss of landbased activities and livelihoods.
In Ghana, more and more of the food needs (especially vegetables) of the urban population are being met by people farming in the urban/peri-urban areas, giving rise to what has become known as Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA). UPA... more
In Ghana, more and more of the food needs (especially vegetables) of the urban population are being met by people farming in the urban/peri-urban areas, giving rise to what has become known as Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA). UPA is a farm and non-farm activity adopted for livelihood and domestic food security improvements. These activities have had challenges and dwindled growth overtime the period due to urban expansion and the lack of proper land use plans for that activity. This study with funding from USAID-Ghana sought to identify some of the major UPA
activities in the key cities / big towns in Ghana that serve as a livelihood source for urban/periurban dwellers. It examined the major areas of production and marketing of UPA livelihood activities and assessed the profitability of the key UPA livelihood activities identified in the
designated cities and towns with particular attention to the cost of inputs such as land and its tenure security. In particular, it reviewed critical and relevant policies, laws and by-laws guiding land use and access in urban and peri-urban areas, the adequacy of regulations in guiding and
protecting UPA activities. Lastly, the study examined and described the changing land use patterns in each of the designated major cities and towns and their effect on the profitability and sustainability of UPA in the country. This study aims to provide a set of recommendations to influence policy that will contribute to a sustainable UPA and food security in Ghana.
Methodologically, the study adopted mixed method approaches including interviews, survey questionnaire, focus group and key informant discussions with some state institutions and UPA practitioners using a sample of 244 respondents through purposive and cluster sampling
frames as well as document reviews. Gross Margin Analysis and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. The results indicate that policies on UPA were quite pronounced in the country’s agricultural and land policy frameworks. The relevant state institutions such as MoFA, LPSA and Metropolitan, municipal and District Assemblies have been established with the requisite mandates. However, there are overlapping and competing responsibilities between these institutions. With no strong coordinated and integrated effort at harmonizing similar and cross-cutting responsibilities of state institutions on UPA, implementation of UPA policies in the field was affected. The result is that UPA has been affected as land used for agriculture in those areas have been taken over by commercial, industrial and residential development. Many farmers have been pushed to the periphery of the urban areas which are mostly infertile. The study establishes that most lands used for UPA are government-owned (5.3%), owned by private individuals (27%), along streams and valleys (36%) and 8% for open spaces. The percentages of crops cultivated are Maize (29%), cabbage (16%), Lettuce (11%), Onions (10.2%) and Okoro (9%) in UPA in Ghana. The study also found out that farmers’ main reason for farming in these areas were mainly to earn an income (74%), food (19%) and for both
income and food (7%). In terms of land acquisition, 47% said they are farming on the land with permission and 14% without permission/squatters. About 57% claim they were not harassed, whilst 5% were constantly harassed by owners for farming on the lands. With an average seasonal revenue of GHC 2,081.40 GHC 1,460.90, GHC 826.80 and GHC 2,657.20 for onions, cabbage, lettuce and sweet pepper respectively per hectare per farmer in the study areas, UPA can be said to be profitable. This is because these earnings are higher than the average annual earnings of GHC340.00 reported by the Ghana Statistical Service Living Standards Survey Round 5 in 2008. With these findings, the study recommends that;
1. MOFA, Town and Country Planning and the Assemblies should collaborate to designate
agricultural lands for these urban and peri-urban areas
2. That institution like Town and Country Planning should use their regulatory powers to
carry through designated areas for use
3. That government should carry out nationwide zoning of lands into UPA, real estate and
industrial and lobby chiefs into it as stakeholders
4. That UPA activity should be regulated to ensure best practices and constant supply food to the urban areas
5. MOFA should establish a UPA desk at each regional office to support UPA activities
6. MOFA together with the chiefs and Town and Country Planning should liaise and ensure
that only zoned and mapped lands are sold to people.
activities in the key cities / big towns in Ghana that serve as a livelihood source for urban/periurban dwellers. It examined the major areas of production and marketing of UPA livelihood activities and assessed the profitability of the key UPA livelihood activities identified in the
designated cities and towns with particular attention to the cost of inputs such as land and its tenure security. In particular, it reviewed critical and relevant policies, laws and by-laws guiding land use and access in urban and peri-urban areas, the adequacy of regulations in guiding and
protecting UPA activities. Lastly, the study examined and described the changing land use patterns in each of the designated major cities and towns and their effect on the profitability and sustainability of UPA in the country. This study aims to provide a set of recommendations to influence policy that will contribute to a sustainable UPA and food security in Ghana.
Methodologically, the study adopted mixed method approaches including interviews, survey questionnaire, focus group and key informant discussions with some state institutions and UPA practitioners using a sample of 244 respondents through purposive and cluster sampling
frames as well as document reviews. Gross Margin Analysis and descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. The results indicate that policies on UPA were quite pronounced in the country’s agricultural and land policy frameworks. The relevant state institutions such as MoFA, LPSA and Metropolitan, municipal and District Assemblies have been established with the requisite mandates. However, there are overlapping and competing responsibilities between these institutions. With no strong coordinated and integrated effort at harmonizing similar and cross-cutting responsibilities of state institutions on UPA, implementation of UPA policies in the field was affected. The result is that UPA has been affected as land used for agriculture in those areas have been taken over by commercial, industrial and residential development. Many farmers have been pushed to the periphery of the urban areas which are mostly infertile. The study establishes that most lands used for UPA are government-owned (5.3%), owned by private individuals (27%), along streams and valleys (36%) and 8% for open spaces. The percentages of crops cultivated are Maize (29%), cabbage (16%), Lettuce (11%), Onions (10.2%) and Okoro (9%) in UPA in Ghana. The study also found out that farmers’ main reason for farming in these areas were mainly to earn an income (74%), food (19%) and for both
income and food (7%). In terms of land acquisition, 47% said they are farming on the land with permission and 14% without permission/squatters. About 57% claim they were not harassed, whilst 5% were constantly harassed by owners for farming on the lands. With an average seasonal revenue of GHC 2,081.40 GHC 1,460.90, GHC 826.80 and GHC 2,657.20 for onions, cabbage, lettuce and sweet pepper respectively per hectare per farmer in the study areas, UPA can be said to be profitable. This is because these earnings are higher than the average annual earnings of GHC340.00 reported by the Ghana Statistical Service Living Standards Survey Round 5 in 2008. With these findings, the study recommends that;
1. MOFA, Town and Country Planning and the Assemblies should collaborate to designate
agricultural lands for these urban and peri-urban areas
2. That institution like Town and Country Planning should use their regulatory powers to
carry through designated areas for use
3. That government should carry out nationwide zoning of lands into UPA, real estate and
industrial and lobby chiefs into it as stakeholders
4. That UPA activity should be regulated to ensure best practices and constant supply food to the urban areas
5. MOFA should establish a UPA desk at each regional office to support UPA activities
6. MOFA together with the chiefs and Town and Country Planning should liaise and ensure
that only zoned and mapped lands are sold to people.
Background: This paper examines rice farmers' access to livelihood capitals (natural, financial, physical, social and human) and the relationship and propensity for entrepreneurship capacities amongst rice farmers in the northern and... more
Background: This paper examines rice farmers' access to livelihood capitals (natural, financial, physical, social and human) and the relationship and propensity for entrepreneurship capacities amongst rice farmers in the northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana. A simple random and purposive sampling method was used to select a sample size of 301 rice farmers in the two regions. A structured questionnaire was used in conducting the study. The data was analysed with IBM SPSS version 21 using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. Wilcoxon sign rank test, paired t test and Pearson correlation coefficient were also used for the analysis on the access to livelihoods, significance and relationship to entrepreneurial activities of the farmers. Results: Farmers' access to natural capitals was stronger. Similarly, the Wilcoxon sign rank test and test statistics for the physical capital also revealed a significant difference in the farmers' physical capitals with all the measured variables including irrigation infrastructure (z = −5.581; p = 0.000), processing facilities (z = −5.904; p = 0.000), and market access (z = −6.171; p = 0.000), after been exposed to the technology interventions. The test statistics shows significant difference in all the measured variables with the p value (p > 0.05) for the human capitals of the farmers. It also showed that farmers' credit from family and friends, access to bank loans and loans from farmer groups all increased from 47 to 52 %; 26 to 37 % and 28 to 78 %, respectively. Generally farmers' access to all the five livelihood capitals was significant and higher. On the access to livelihood capitals and its entrepreneurial abilities, natural capitals before (t = 1.789, p = 0.074), natural livelihood after (t = 1.664, p = 0.096), social capital after (t = 1.838, p = 0.066), and physical capital before (t = 2.87, p = 0.004) showed a significantly positive relationship with their entrepreneurial capacities. Conclusions: The study revealed that farmers' access to stronger livelihood capitals improves on their internal locus of control, improves their farming management abilities and ultimately boosts their agricultural entrepreneurial capabilities. The study recommends that farmers should leverage on their human capitals (farming skills taught them) to improving on all other livelihood capitals for better business sense and culture and entrepreneurial skills.
This paper examines constraints facing small scale broiler farmers face. in Capricorn district in Limpopo Province.Simple random sampling method was used by drawing from the hat to select farmers from the population based on the list of... more
This paper examines constraints facing small scale broiler farmers face. in Capricorn district in Limpopo Province.Simple random sampling method was used by drawing from the hat to select farmers from the population based on the list of farmers in Capricorn District. From 10 selected villages in the district, 6 farmers were selected in each village to give a total sample size of 60. Data were collected through structured questionnaire on personal characteristics, production, marketing and financial constraints faced by small scale broiler farmers and .. analysed with SPSS (version 20), using frequency counts, percentages, and multiple regression. The study revealed that majority of the respondents are women, between 41 and 60 years, married, with secondary school level education having contact with extension agents, and have income of less than R50, 000 annually. Prominent constraints identified as affecting small scale broiler farmers include lack of access to credit, high interests rates, short repayment period, small stock size, , inadequate infrastructure and high feed costs, difficulty to access veterinary service, lack of biosecurity knowledge, long distance to the market, lack of storage facilities limited markets, unorganized market outlets and inability to participate in the high value markets. Significant determinants of marketing constraints were age (t = 2.243), religion (t =-2.381), frequency of extension contact (t = 2.154), type of extension agent (-1.699) broilers housing types (t = 2.273). Significant determinants of financial constraints were marital status (t = 1.937), Religion (t =-1.773), Type of extension agent (t =-1.86) and the number of years in broiler farming (-2.534) while Significant determinants of production constraints were labour sources (t =-2.084) and number of years in broiler farming (t =-2.286). These results imply that as labour sources increases production constraints decreases. However as the number of years in broiler farming increase the production constraints decreases. [Ntuli Vusi and Oladele O.I. Analysis of constraints faced by small scale broiler famers in Capricorn district in Limpopo province. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):2990-2996] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 366
- by Vusi Ntuli
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