Ramatu M. Al-Hassan

The food security stabilization roles of cassava in Africa

Abstract The paper demonstrates that the role of cassava in stabilizing food security in Africa consists of bridging the seasonal food gap during the hungry season; serving as a backstop food reserve against crop failures and famine; and cushioning the downfall of per capita food production where environmental conditions and per capita resource levels are deteriorating. The empirical evidence provided by the Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa (COSCA) indicates that the relative importance of cassava in the crop mix is positively related to population density, particularly in West Africa; negatively related to land quality; positively related to the environmental risk of crop failure; negatively related to modern inputs use; and negatively related to market accessibility.

Determinants of Choice of Indigenous Climate Related Strategies by Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana

This study assessed the determinants of Choice of Indigenous Climate Related Strategies by Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana using primary data obtained through community focus group discussions and household survey, and subjected to the Multinomial Logit regression model. The empirical results reveal that presence of a market, informal credit from friends and relatives, location of farmer, farmer-to-farmer extension, noticing of a decrease in rainfall and noticing an increase in temperature influence the choice of indigenous climate related strategies. There is therefore the need to improve smallholder farmers’ access to market, agricultural extension services and their awareness of changes in rainfall and temperature.

A framework for analyzing the role of ICT on agricultural commercialization and household food security

Lack of agricultural information has been attributed to the inability of smallholder farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Recent efforts to improve smallholder access to agricultural information have seen increased application of ICT technologies in developing agriculture. These efforts use ICT-based market information to reduce transaction costs of smallholder participation in markets, promote commercialization, and improve household food security. Emerging studies document the benefits of such ICT-based applications in agriculture, including increased incomes and improved performance of agricultural markets. Unfortunately these studies have been context specific and the link between provision of ICT-based market information, smallholder commercialization and household security remains unclear. This paper develops a framework that can be used to analyze the link between ICT application in smallholder agriculture, household commercialization, and food security. The paper generates testable hypotheses relating ICT application in agriculture and reduction in transactions costs, smallholder farmer commercialization, and household food security. It then provides illustrative cases where ICT application in agriculture has benefited smallholder production and improved market performance. However, more research must be done to test the generated hypotheses. The paper discusses the implications of the framework for practitioners.

Agricultural credit rationing in Ghana: what do formal lenders look for?

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of agricultural credit rationing by formal lenders in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach - – This study employed descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Heckmans two-stage regression model to identify types of rationing faced by farmers and investigate factors that influence agricultural credit rationing by formal financial institutions. Data used in this study are gathered through a survey of 595 farmers in seven districts within Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Findings - – The result reveals that farmers face three types of rationing. Evidence from the Heckman two-stage models shows that engagement in off farm income generating activities, increase in farm size, positive balances on accounts and commercial orientation of the farmers has the potential to reduce rationing of credit applicants by formal lenders. Practical implications - – The results provide information on the factors that need to be considered as important in an attempt to reduce agricultural credit rationing by formal lenders. Originality/value - – The value of this study is that farmers would use the results of this study to improve access to required amount of agricultural credit from formal financial institutions. The information would also benefit stakeholders in the agricultural sector, particularly youth in agriculture program organized by Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana as how to improve access to credit and reduce rationing of program participants by formal financial institutions.

Farm household level impacts of information communication technology (ICT)-based agricultural market information in Ghana

This paper assesses the impact of the information communication technology (ICT)-based market information service (MIS) on farm households in the eastern corridor of Northern Ghana. Data was collected from 346 farm households in the eastern corridor of Northern Ghana where an ICT-based market information project was implemented between 2006 and 2009. The sample included 159 participants and 187 non-participants. The logit model was used to identify factors which influence the probability of participation in the ICT market information project, while propensity score matching (PSM) was used to assess the project impact. Results indicate that age and value of assets were negatively related to the likelihood of participation in ICT-based MIS. A unit increase in age reduced likelihood of participation by 0.5%, while a unit increase in value of assets reduces likelihood of participation by 7%. Previous participation in a development project increased likelihood of participation by more than 60%. Participation in the ICT-based project increased expenditure on pesticides, and food security by 11%. More participants (13%) used improved seed than nonparticipants. It is recommended that younger persons are made the target/focus group for ICT projects and that the private and public sectors collaborate to facilitate wide availability and expanded use of ICT MIS.

What Influences Farmers' Choice of Indigenous Adaptation Strategies for Agrobiodiversity Loss in Northern Ghana?

Heavy dependence on the natural environment for agricultural production in northern Ghana adversely affects the availability of agrobiodiversity and in turn household livelihoods. Farmers have over the years developed strategies for adapting to reduction in agrobiodiversity but the extent of adoption varies among farmers. This study used the multinomial logit model to determine the factors influencing farmers’ choice of indigenous adaptation strategies in response to agrobiodiversity loss in northern Ghana. The analysis is based on a sample of 310 farmers drawn from 31 communities in northern Ghana. The factors that positively influence the choice include household head’s sex, farming experience, radio ownership, household size, borrowing credit and awareness of reduction in crop diversity. On the other hand, age, education, farm size, awareness of climate change, farm cash income and existence of market in community, negatively influence choice of strategies. Furthermore, farmer to farmer extension and off-farm income influence adoption either positively or negatively with respect to the adoption option in question. Thus, to encourage adaptation and conservation mechanisms, policies should strengthen farmer based organizations and promote education on the sustainable use of the natural environment. Government policies must also enhance access to offfarm income generating activities.

The transformation of urban food systems in Ghana: Findings from inventories of processed products

Urban food systems in Ghana are changing, along with rapid urbanization and growth in household incomes. Using data from retail inventories of packaged products carried out in eight cities in 2015 and 2016, we find that the interplay of urbanization, imports and domestic processing and packaging has led to some surprising outcomes. Imports are dominant, especially for milled rice and tomato paste, and the shares are higher in smaller cities than in Accra. Imported products are more prevalent in traditional retail outlets than in modern retail outlets. Moreover, imported products come mainly from East Asia; excluding South Africa, which accounts for 6% of imports, less than 3% of imported products were from other African countries.

Impact of Formal Financial Market Participation on Farm Size and Expenditure on Variable Farm Inputs: The Case of Maize Farmers in Ghana

The study examined maize farmers’ participation in the formal financial market and its impact on farm size and expenditure on variable farm inputs. A multistage sampling method was used in selecting 595 maize farmers from the seven districts in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. A structured questionnaire and interview schedule were used to elicit information from the respondents. The impact of formal financial market participation on farm size and expenditure on variable inputs was estimated using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. The results of the study showed that formal financial market participation has the potential to significantly increase expenditure on variable inputs by farmers and consequently use of improved technology. Therefore, formal financial market participation should be encouraged through education and promotional activities.