Subsidies, aquaculture technology adoption, and welfare impacts in Ghana and Kenya

This dissertation empirically examines subsidies, aquaculture technology adoption, and welfare implications of fish farming households in Ghana and Kenya. It is divided into three separate chapters, each addressing a specific empirical issue related to aquaculture in the countries. The second chapter of this dissertation applies the lognormal double hurdle model to a cross-section of fish farms to analyze commercial demand for improved feed, and whether the government feed subsidy program influences private demand for the feed. The results indicate that households’ decisions to participate in improved feed market are affected by the quantity of the subsidized feed received. Once the participation decision has been made, the paper finds evidence of crowding-in of the private improved feed sector; that is, the government’s allocations of subsidized feed appear to increase private sector demand. In addition, the price of improved feed influences demand negatively. Moreover, education, extension contacts, and ease of marketing matured fish increase household propensity to purchase improved feed commercially. The implications of these are that policies that help reduce the price of improved feed, such as reduction in tariffs on imported feeds and feed ingredients will foster demand for the feed, as will policies that facilitate marketing of fish at reasonable prices by households. Chapter three uses the same survey dataset as in chapter one, to examine the impact of improved feed technology on fish income and poverty, using the propensity score matching technique. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis allowed for creating a counterfactual comparison group, given that households were not randomly assigned to improved feed adoption group, resulting in selection bias. The results indicate that improved feed technology adoption increases aquaculture income and reduces poverty among fish farming households. Specifically, the income effect of the technology is 23 – 37 percent, with resultant poverty reduction effect of 19 – 23 percentage point. The percentage and absolute impacts are higher among households operating small fish farms (average of a single pond). Chapter four combines the methodological approaches for chapter one (double hurdle model) and chapter two (propensity score matching) to examine the determinants of adoption and extent thereof, and welfare impacts of improved feed in Ghana using a cross-sectional data of fish farming households. The study focuses on the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and Western regions of Ghana. The data shows that the quantity of improved feed purchased and used on-farm is far below what is technically recommended for maximum yield. The results of the PSM analysis provide evidence that improved feed technology increases fish income, as well as reduce poverty among fish farming households in the three regions studied. Moreover, in order to foster adoption and intensity thereof in Ghana, the results indicate that improving education, extension services delivery, and area under fish farming are vital

SARS-CoV-2 infections among asymptomatic individuals contributed to COVID-19 cases: A cross-sectional study among prospective air travelers from Ghana

BackgroundThe spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by asymptomatic individuals has been reported since the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in various parts of the world. However, there are limited data regarding SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic individuals in Ghana. The aim of the study was to use test data of prospective travelers from Ghana as a proxy to estimate the contribution of asymptomatic cases to the spread of COVID-19.MethodsThe study analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test data of clients whose purpose for testing was classified as “Travel” at the COVID-19 walk-in test center of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) from July 2020 to July 2021. These individuals requesting tests for travel generally had no clinical symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing. Data were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel office 16 and STATA version 16. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data on test and demographic characteristics.ResultsOut of 42,997 samples tested at the center within that period, 28,384 (66.0%) were classified as “Travel” tests. Of these, 1,900 (6.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The majority (64.8%) of the “Travel” tests were requested by men. The men recorded a SARS-CoV-2 positivity of 6.9% compared to the 6.4% observed among women. Test requests for SARS-CoV-2 were received from all regions of Ghana, with a majority (83.3%) received from the Greater Accra Region. Although the Eastern region recorded the highest SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate of 8.35%, the Greater Accra region contributed 81% to the total number of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases detected within the period of study.ConclusionOur study found substantial SARS-CoV-2 positivity among asymptomatic individuals who, without the requirement for a negative SARS-CoV-2 result for travel, would have no reason to test. These asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals could have traveled to other countries and unintentionally spread the virus. Our findings call for enhanced tracing and testing of asymptomatic contacts of individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2

Subsidies, aquaculture technology adoption, and welfare impacts in Ghana and Kenya

This dissertation empirically examines subsidies, aquaculture technology adoption, and welfare implications of fish farming households in Ghana and Kenya. It is divided into three separate chapters, each addressing a specific empirical issue related to aquaculture in the countries. The second chapter of this dissertation applies the lognormal double hurdle model to a cross-section of fish farms to analyze commercial demand for improved feed, and whether the government feed subsidy program influences private demand for the feed. The results indicate that households’ decisions to participate in improved feed market are affected by the quantity of the subsidized feed received. Once the participation decision has been made, the paper finds evidence of crowding-in of the private improved feed sector; that is, the government’s allocations of subsidized feed appear to increase private sector demand. In addition, the price of improved feed influences demand negatively. Moreover, education, extension contacts, and ease of marketing matured fish increase household propensity to purchase improved feed commercially. The implications of these are that policies that help reduce the price of improved feed, such as reduction in tariffs on imported feeds and feed ingredients will foster demand for the feed, as will policies that facilitate marketing of fish at reasonable prices by households. Chapter three uses the same survey dataset as in chapter one, to examine the impact of improved feed technology on fish income and poverty, using the propensity score matching technique. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis allowed for creating a counterfactual comparison group, given that households were not randomly assigned to improved feed adoption group, resulting in selection bias. The results indicate that improved feed technology adoption increases aquaculture income and reduces poverty among fish farming households. Specifically, the income effect of the technology is 23 – 37 percent, with resultant poverty reduction effect of 19 – 23 percentage point. The percentage and absolute impacts are higher among households operating small fish farms (average of a single pond). Chapter four combines the methodological approaches for chapter one (double hurdle model) and chapter two (propensity score matching) to examine the determinants of adoption and extent thereof, and welfare impacts of improved feed in Ghana using a cross-sectional data of fish farming households. The study focuses on the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and Western regions of Ghana. The data shows that the quantity of improved feed purchased and used on-farm is far below what is technically recommended for maximum yield. The results of the PSM analysis provide evidence that improved feed technology increases fish income, as well as reduce poverty among fish farming households in the three regions studied. Moreover, in order to foster adoption and intensity thereof in Ghana, the results indicate that improving education, extension services delivery, and area under fish farming are vital

Welfare Effects of Agricultural Productivity Growth – A Micro Panel Evidence from Rural Tanzania

This paper uses two waves of nationally representative household-level panel data to examine the welfare effects of agricultural productivity in rural Tanzania. Four measures of productivity and ten indicators of welfare, including multidimensional welfare, are considered. Econometric procedures that take into account potential endogeneity resulting from omitted variables bias are employed. The results show welfare-enhancing effects of agricultural productivity, though the elasticities are marginal, requiring potentially large productivity growth for substantial welfare impact. The analysis of the linkage between productivity growth and welfare transition shows that households that experience growth in productivity are more likely to make welfare-enhancing transitions. Policies that allow for expanding households access to durable goods and agricultural capital, investment in irrigation and erosion control facilities, improving households access to agricultural extension services with the needed know-how, as well as ensuring favorable biophysical environment, are vital for sustained productivity growth

MODELING THE CHOICE OF IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES OF URBAN VEGETABLE FARMERS IN ACCRA, GHANA

Irrigation is seen as the means of ensuring food security in a water-scarce urban economy such as the Accra Metropolitan Area of Ghana. The use of modern, advanced and resource efficient irrigation technologies is vital to increase farm output and take people out of poverty. The informal irrigation system is what is common among the urban vegetable producers in Accra. The study modeled the choice of informal irrigation technologies of urban vegetable farmers in Accra using the multinomial logit modeling Approach. A sample of 107 respondents provided information for the analyses. Farmers who have access to credit, frequently contact extension agents, operate larger farm size, have high labour cost of farm operations and use river as key source of irrigation water were likely to use the motorized pump with hose irrigation technology. It was suggested that extension agents should intensify education of the farmers on the benefits of modern irrigation technologies such as the motorized pump with hose. Also credit should be made available to the farmers by the government and other development partners so as to be able to invest in such water-saving and resource efficient irrigation technologies

Digital financial services and livelihood diversification in rural Ghana

The emergence of digital financial systems, especially mobile money, has significantly changed the financial services space in sub-Saharan Africa in ways that promote financial inclusion among the poor, including those in rural communities. Focusing on mobile money, which is the main avenue for digital financial services for rural households in Ghana, this study investigates whether digital finance affects rural households’ livelihood diversification, using a nationally representative data on Ghana. Employing several econometric methods, including instrumental variable techniques to address potential endogeneity bias, the study finds mobile money to be positively associated with households’ choice of non-farm business as a livelihood option as well as their engagement in livestock production. However, we find a negative relationship between mobile money and diversification in crop production including the extent to which households engaged in the crop sector are able to diversify crop production. The implication is that when rural households have access to mobile money services, they produce fewer number of different crops while exploring non-farm activities and livestock production as additional livelihood options. The results underscore the need to address constraints that limit rural households’ access to digital financial tools, especially mobile money, in Ghana and in similar developing country contexts. This study employs a nationally representative micro-data from rural Ghana to investigate the effect of digital finance on livelihood diversification using several econometric methods including instrumental variables to address potential endogeneity bias. The study represents a significant attempt at addressing an important gap in the existing literature which is about whether digital finance brings any value addition to livelihood diversification efforts by rural households. The key finding is that when rural agricultural households have access to digital financial services through mobile money, they produce fewer different crops, while exploring non-farm activities and livestock production as additional livelihood options. The finding implies that access to digital finance may influence rural households’ ability to reallocate productive resources to areas that yield higher returns to their livelihoods and/or mitigate the risk of income loss. Expanding upon this finding with an exploration of the key correlates of diversification and access to digital finance, the study shows that addressing constraints to access to digital finance or mobile money (particularly, the limited mobile phone connectivity, electricity access or supply challenges, and low education or digital illiteracy in rural areas) is important for deepening livelihood diversification in rural Ghana.</p

Physical activity and sedentary time in a rural adult population in Malawi compared with an age-matched US urban population.

ObjectivesThis study was designed to assess patterns of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in a sample of adults in a rural setting from a low-income Sub-Saharan African country (Malawi). The patterns of PA and sedentary behaviour in Malawi were compared with US data collected and analysed using the same methodology.MethodsThe Malawi PA data were collected as part of a survey experiment on the measurement of agricultural labor conducted under the World Bank Living Standards Measurement Study program. ActiGraph accelerometers (model GT3X) were worn on the right hip in a household-based sample of 414 working-age adults (15-85&nbsp;years).ResultsMean total and 95% CIs for PA by category in min/day for Malawi adults were: sedentary 387.6 (377.4-397.8), low-light 222.1 (214.7-229.5), high-light 136.3 (132.7-139.9), moderate 71.6 (68.8-74.5), vigorous 1.1 (0.5-1.8) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) 72.8 (69.7-75.9). Mean of PA and sedentary behavior (min/day) summed across age and sex groups are compared between Malawi and US samples: sedentary behaviour, 387.6&nbsp;vs 525.8 (p&lt;0.001); low-light, 222.1&nbsp;vs 217.0 (p=ns); high-light, 136.3&nbsp;vs 45.6 (p&lt;0.001); moderate, 71.6&nbsp;vs 28.0 (p&lt;0.001); vigorous, 1.1&nbsp;vs 2.5 (p&lt;0.001); MVPA, 72.8&nbsp;vs 30.5 (p&lt;0.001). Compared with the USA, Malawi participants averaged consistently less sedentary time/day and more minutes/day in all intensity levels of PA, except for low-light and vigorous PA.ConclusionOverall, levels of MVPA and high-light activity in adults in Malawi were substantially higher and sedentary time was substantially lower than those observed in US samples using near identical data collection, scoring and analysis

Physical activity and sedentary time in a rural adult population in Malawi compared with an age-matched US urban population

Objectives: This study was designed to assess patterns of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in a sample of adults in a rural setting from a low-income Sub-Saharan African country (Malawi). The patterns of PA and sedentary behaviour in Malawi were compared with US data collected and analysed using the same methodology. Methods: The Malawi PA data were collected as part of a survey experiment on the measurement of agricultural labor conducted under the World Bank Living Standards Measurement Study program. ActiGraph accelerometers (model GT3X) were worn on the right hip in a household-based sample of 414 working-age adults (15–85 years). Results: Mean total and 95% CIs for PA by category in min/day for Malawi adults were: sedentary 387.6 (377.4–397.8), low-light 222.1 (214.7–229.5), high-light 136.3 (132.7–139.9), moderate 71.6 (68.8–74.5), vigorous 1.1 (0.5–1.8) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) 72.8 (69.7–75.9). Mean of PA and sedentary behavior (min/day) summed across age and sex groups are compared between Malawi and US samples: sedentary behaviour, 387.6 vs 525.8 (p<0.001); low-light, 222.1 vs 217.0 (p=ns); high-light, 136.3 vs 45.6 (p<0.001); moderate, 71.6 vs 28.0 (p<0.001); vigorous, 1.1 vs 2.5 (p<0.001); MVPA, 72.8 vs 30.5 (p<0.001). Compared with the USA, Malawi participants averaged consistently less sedentary time/day and more minutes/day in all intensity levels of PA, except for low-light and vigorous PA. Conclusion: Overall, levels of MVPA and high-light activity in adults in Malawi were substantially higher and sedentary time was substantially lower than those observed in US samples using near identical data collection, scoring and analysis