Factors that Influence Household Demand for Locally Produced Brown Rice in Ghana

Brown rice has a higher nutrient content than milled rice. This study determines the factors that influence the demand for local brown rice. The study achieves this by investigating the patterns of consumption of brown rice, attributes of the product that influence its consumption, factors that affect its consumption and the institutional support in the rice industry. Primary data on the attributes, factors and patterns of consumption of brown rice was obtained from respondents in the Volta and Greater Accra Regions using semi-structured questionnaire. Information on the functions of identified local institutions was obtained from the institutions. The data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, Tobit model and the Chi-square test. The results of the study showed that taste is the major attribute that influence people to consume brown rice. Brown  rice consumers are mostly those who have brown rice as a traditional diet. One of the attributes of brown rice that is keen as far as its consumption is concerned is its healthful benefits. The results of the Tobit regression model showed that the price of brown rice and the technical attributes of both brown rice and white rice (colour, taste, nutritional value, texture) and socioeconomic characteristics particularly (income) explain the share of brown rice in total rice consumption. Awareness creation of brown rice was found to be through friends and relatives. Acceptability ratio was found to be low.  The results obtained from the chi-square test indicate that the local institutions that were important in brown rice development were the University of Ghana Agric Research Station (UGARS), MoFA, GTZ, JICA, ACDI/VOCA, AgSSIP, FINATRADE, USAID, GAWU, MFCS Ltd., and FBOs. It is therefore recommended that the media should be used more in the awareness creation of brown rice. Advocacy groups should do more in order to sensitize people on the healthful benefits of brown rice. The research also showed that most of the service organizations perform their functions effectively and therefore the government should continue to partner the donor agencies to enhance cooperation among brown rice promoters. These institutions are to cooperate with each other in order to enhance their operations. The Local Governance institutions such as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies should provide support to the Department of community development, cooperatives and advocacy groups to lift up the campaign. Keywords: brown rice, consumption pattern, nutritional content, demand, awareness creation, demand

Social Capital and Access to Credit by Farmer Based Organizations in the Karaga District of Northern Ghana

Farmer Based Organization (FBO) is one of the key support service actors in agricultural value chains in developing economies. The dimensions of the FBOs that constitute social capital and how they enhance access to credit are the concern of this study.  Information was collected from 210 FBO members and non-members in the Karaga district of Northern Ghana, where FBO activities and agricultural credit services have increased in the last decade. The analytical methods used include principal component analysis-PCA and logistic regression analysis (logit model). The major finding was that the dimensions of social capital such as homogeneity, network connection, level of trust, collective action and the respect for contract had positive significant effect on access to credit. Given the positive effect of the FBOs’ social capital on access to credit, it is recommended that FBO members should make conscious effort to strengthen their FBOs along the social capital dimensions. Officers of financial service organizations tasked to prime FBOs for agricultural credit programs should prime them based on these dimensions. Keywords: social capital dimensions, FBOs, access to credit, social network

Utilization of Information Communication Technology’s Components for Coordination of Marketing, Agricultural Commodities in Oyo State Nigeria

Base on the fact that ICT’s components are the fastest tools of disseminating information and Nigeria being an agrarian country that its utilization for marketing agricultural commodities (MAC) becomes pertinent. The study is a pilot project conducted in Oyo state because it is one of the food basket states in Nigeria. List of markets was the sampling frame work for the research; from where 8 markets were randomly selected. Sixty agricultural commodities marketers (ACM) were randomly selected from marketer’s list. Interview schedule was used to solicit for information from (ACM). Regression analysis was used to ascertain the level of contribution of each ICT’s components to MAC. Result revealed that mobile phone, radio, and television and automated teller machine awareness mean scores 3.5,3,4 .3. 3 and 2.5 respectively were higher than any other components put into consideration. Adoption rate of ICTs component for marketing agricultural commodities revealed that automated teller machine and mobile phone for marketing agricultural commodities adoption mean scores 2.5, and 2,8  were higher than any other ICT components However, very few 32.3 % 22.1% of the marketers made use of ICT components for recording of sales of farm commodities and saving money respectively. High cost of power and telephone services, poverty level of agricultural marketers and limited access to ICT components ranked first ,second and third respective as the constraints to marketing of agricultural commodities among other components Regression analysis results indicated that  mobile phone, radio, and automated money transferred machine are the most important ICT components in marketing of agricultural commodities. Despite the role of ICT’s in ACM the marketers have  not been able to make use of  facilities frequently  because of those constraints  identified  in this study  hence, a programme that will  provide solutions to those constrains    should be promoted. Keywords: Information, marketing, ICT components, agricultural commodity and utilizatio

Design of Solar Drying Technology Equipment for Drying Food Consistent with Farmers' Willingness to Pay: Evidence from Ghana

In this study, a survey of two hundred and fifty-five (255) farmers, sampled from the Akuapim South District in the Eastern Region and the South Tongu District in the Volta Region of Ghana was undertaken to determine their willingness to adopt and pay for solar drying technology for drying food. Using descriptive statistics, farmers’ awareness, willingness to adopt and willingness to pay for solar drying technology were analyzed. A Logit model analysis was employed in identifying factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt the technology. The empirical results reveal a low level of awareness of the solar drying technology (27%) among the farmers. However majority (94.5%) were willing to adopt the technology and (88.2%) willing to pay for the technology. The modal amount farmers were willing to pay was GH¢100.00 and the highest amount GH¢1000.00. The modal amount of GH¢100.00 ($66.00) can produce a 4sq meter simple box type solar dryer that has a drying capacity of 50kg per sq meter, which guarantees the farmers shorter drying time and lower final moisture content. The study also found incentive provision, total monthly income of farmers and space to accommodate a solar dryer as the factors influencing farmers’ willingness to adopt the solar drying technology. In this respect, sensitization campaigns should be intensified to create more awareness of the solar drying technology among small holder farmers. In doing so, farmers should be introduced to varied designs and varied costs of the technology in order for them to make their own choice. Solar dried food products should be differentiated and considered for higher prices, ready market and export to motivate farmers to adopt the technology. Further, there is the need for the provision of space (land) by the District Assemblies in the various communities where these farmers can conveniently place their solar dryers for the purpose of drying the food products. Finally, since income is a factor that significantly influences farmers’ adoption of the technology, it is imperative that the government provides the solar drying equipments at vantage points in the communities that farmers could use to dry their products, even if at an affordable fee.Key words: Design, solar drying technology, drying food, adoption, farmers’ willingness to pay amount, Binary Logit Model, Ghan

Willingness of marine artisanal fishermen to integrate aquaculture in enterprise mix: Evidence from Ghana

Marine resources are depleting, making the dependence of economies on fish from such sources no longer the best option. Aquaculture has been suggested as an alternative livelihood. This study assesses the willingness of marine artisanal fishermen in the coastal region of Ghana to adopt aquaculture. The Effutu municipality in the central region of Ghana was purposely selected for the study. A multi stage cluster sampling procedure was used to randomly select150 artisanal fishermen from two communities in the coastal area of the district. Data was collected using semi structured questionnaire. The study employed the Binary Logit model to assess the influence of technical, socioeconomic and institutional factors on the decision to integrate the aquaculture enterprise into household enterprises of fishermen. The results of the study showed that about62 percent of the marine fishermen were willing to adopt and integrate aquaculture into their enterprise mix. The Logit estimation results reveal that fishermen who lacked savings, had difficulty in accessing credit, did not belong to fishermen's association, and were new in marine fishing were more likely to be convinced about integrating aquaculture. There is potential for marine fishers to explore and use aquaculture to enhance their wealth. The study recommends that targeting marine fishers who are youthful and inexperienced for training and capacity building is the best policy option for stakeholders who are interested in aquaculture development. Key Words: Marine artisanal fishermen, aquaculture, enterprise mix, Binary Logit Model, Ghan

Assessing drivers of maize storage losses in south west Benin using a Fractional Response Model: Poster

An assessment of drivers of maize storage losses was undertaken in south west Benin applying the Fractional Response Model on information collected from 400 smallholder maize farmers. Overall, respondents lose on average 10.3% of their harvest during the storage period. The average marginal effect obtained from the fractional response model of storage losses revealed that storage technologies, farmers’ post-harvest attitudes, insects damage, the weather conditions and infrastructures played a significant role in the level of storage losses surveyed farmers have experienced. Farmers using bags and plastic containers have respectively reduced their storage losses by 6.7 and 7.8% compared to farmers using cribs. Considering the use of storage protectant, the results indicated that using ash, neem leaves, pepper or lemon lead to an increase of 4.1% of losses relative to storing without any protectant. Drying after harvesting decreased by 1.9% the share of the quantity stored lost during storage. The percentage of maize lost increased by 5.1% for respondents who have reported insects as predators of their stored maize. Rain at harvest time increased the percentage of losses by 2.1%. A one-degree increase in temperature increased the percentage of maize loss by 4.4% and farmers who live at less than 26.5 km to the market have reduced by 0.17% of maize losses. Effective policies for a sustainable reduction of storage losses among maize farmers in the area should consider the need to discourage the use of cribs, ash, leaves, pepper and lemon as storage technologies. Farmers should avoid harvesting during times of rain, and should properly dry their produce after harvesting. Sustainable hermetic equipment should be promoted and farmers’ access to markets facilitated.An assessment of drivers of maize storage losses was undertaken in south west Benin applying the Fractional Response Model on information collected from 400 smallholder maize farmers. Overall, respondents lose on average 10.3% of their harvest during the storage period. The average marginal effect obtained from the fractional response model of storage losses revealed that storage technologies, farmers’ post-harvest attitudes, insects damage, the weather conditions and infrastructures played a significant role in the level of storage losses surveyed farmers have experienced. Farmers using bags and plastic containers have respectively reduced their storage losses by 6.7 and 7.8% compared to farmers using cribs. Considering the use of storage protectant, the results indicated that using ash, neem leaves, pepper or lemon lead to an increase of 4.1% of losses relative to storing without any protectant. Drying after harvesting decreased by 1.9% the share of the quantity stored lost during storage. The percentage of maize lost increased by 5.1% for respondents who have reported insects as predators of their stored maize. Rain at harvest time increased the percentage of losses by 2.1%. A one-degree increase in temperature increased the percentage of maize loss by 4.4% and farmers who live at less than 26.5 km to the market have reduced by 0.17% of maize losses. Effective policies for a sustainable reduction of storage losses among maize farmers in the area should consider the need to discourage the use of cribs, ash, leaves, pepper and lemon as storage technologies. Farmers should avoid harvesting during times of rain, and should properly dry their produce after harvesting. Sustainable hermetic equipment should be promoted and farmers’ access to markets facilitated

The triple challenge: food security and vulnerabilities of fishing and farming households in situations characterized by increasing conflict, climate shock, and environmental degradation

As conflict, climate shocks, and land/water degradation—the “triple challenge”—continue to exert increasing pressure upon fishing and farming livelihoods in many developing countries, a need exists to better understand how differential vulnerabilities undermine or amplify food security outcomes. In this study, we investigate how vulnerability to the “triple challenge” affect food security using an in-depth case study approach that merges social statistics and quantitative data analysis. We frame vulnerability using a combination of sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity, and operationalize food security using the FAO Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), which is an experience-based measure capturing the food access dimension of food security. We draw on survey data from 252 fishing and 251 farming households in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and quantify the different components of vulnerability, deriving specific livelihood-related vulnerability scores. By merging and analyzing differential food security variables and vulnerability scores using ordered logistic models, we find that vulnerability to the “triple challenge” increases the probability of being in a severe food insecure state, particularly for households with a high dependency ratio. Parallel to this finding, we note that access to social capital and opportunities for livelihood diversification could drive gains in income, enhancing the capacity of households to attain a food-secure status in the face of recurrent instabilities. This study advances vulnerability literacy in food-insecure contexts and reveals ways to support populations on the frontline of interacting conflict, climate, and environmental crises

Willingness to pay for excreta pellet fertilizer: Empirical evidence from Ghana

This study examined farmers’ willingness to pay for excreta pellet fertilizer in Ghana. Primary data was obtained from 461 farmers in 10 districts in the Western and Greater Accra regions of Ghana through randomized questionnaire administration. The contingent valuation method was used in eliciting the farmers’ willingness to pay decisions (WTP) and maximum amount they are willing to pay. The Tobit regression model results revealed that being a household head, unit cost of current fertilizer used, and farm size positively influenced the willingness to pay amount whereas previous use of organic fertilizer influenced the willingness to pay amount negatively.</p