Analysing the determinants, constraints and opportunities of smallholder farmers access to input markets: Evidence from northern Ghana

Smallholder farmers face multiple constraints in accessing input markets. This study seeks to understand the dynamics that influence input markets in northern Ghana and the opportunities that exist for smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and welfare. Using a random sample of 448 households, the study applied the probit and non-parametric methods in identifying the factors that influence farmers’ ac-cess to input markets and the key constraints faced by them. The results show that access to extension services, access to finance, distance to the nearest input market, and input source are significant factors that would be likely to influence farm-ers’ access to input markets. Lack of finance, poor road net-work, and low prices of output are the main critically ranked constraints limiting farmers’ access to input markets. Policy initiatives should be geared toward strengthening extension service delivery, farmer education on inputs, improving feeder roads, and encouraging private sector participation in input markets. Available opportunities to leverage on and improve farmers’ access to input markets include the governments’ input subsidy programmes, existing large-scale agricultural projects, private agricultural companies with contract farm-ing models, and extensive network of input dealers and ag-gregators in the communities. These findings are relevant for farmers, input dealers and policy makers working to improve farmers’ access to input markets

Documenting the digital transformation of African agriculture : Use and impact of digital technologies among agricultural intermediaries

Agricultural intermediaries perform important functions in the African food and agriculture sector. Digital solutions targeted at these intermediaries could improve their service delivery while helping digital agricultural (D4Ag) service providers cover the last mile to producers. To determine how to empower agricultural intermediaries with digital technologies, it is important first to understand how they are already making use of and are impacted by these technologies in their professional activities. To this end, data was collected through 1,571 in-person interviews with extension workers, output dealers and input dealers in Ghana, Kenya, Mali and Nigeria. The results show that intermediaries make extensive use of ICTs in their work, much more so than the low adoption rates of D4Ag solutions would suggest. Mobile phones clearly dominate the digital technologies, most commonly smartphones, which are often used daily. Three areas of impact can be identified. First, ICTs facilitate information sharing between intermediaries and other value chain actors which emerged as the main activity and benefit across the three groups. Second, ICTs facilitate networking among value chain actors. In the case of dealers, these networks are mainly used for two-way business transactions while extension agents take advantage of ICTs to interact and share information with a wide range of actors. Third, ICTs reduce transaction costs for input and output dealers through better access to information about buyers, sellers and prices, better timing of produce / input purchases, faster payments from customers and reduced travel times. Given the widespread use of ICTs among agricultural intermediaries, D4Ag service providers can capitalize on intermediaries’ existing digital skills, technological capacities and digitally enabled networks to expand their reach, in particular to producers who are still not universally accessible via ICTs, but also to other actors in the African food and agriculture sector

Agricultural technologies adoption and smallholder farmers' welfare: Evidence from Northern Ghana

Improving the welfare of smallholder farmers through the introduction of improved technologies has gained increased attention in recent times. The focus now transcends the mere development and introduction of these farming technologies to improve productivity alone. Policymakers, particularly those in developing countries now pursue the implementation of interventions that promote the use of improved technologies to advance the welfare of smallholder farmers. However, the impact of such intervention to inform future policy decisions remains largely lacking and under theorized. The current study, therefore, analysed the impact of technology adoption on smallholder farmers' welfare. We obtained data from 461 technology adopters and non-adopters by using purposive and simple random sampling. Using the propensity score matching technique, we estimated the impact of technology adoption on smallholder farm households. The results show that regional location, educational level, age, and Farmer Base Organisation (FBO) membership are the main determinants of technology adoption among smallholder farmers. Technology adoption had a positive but statistically insignificant impact on welfare. Consumption and clothing expenditure increased with adoption but not healthcare. To improve the impact of technology adoption on smallholder farmer welfare, emphasis should be placed on business supporting/advisory services; agricultural extension outreach, finance/input support among others

Microcredit Repayment Among Smallholder Farmers: What Micofinance Institutions Need to Know

Microcredit default among borrowers has been rising in recent years but empirical evidence to ascertain the factors determining repayment remain lacking especially in developing countries like Ghana. This study contributes to addressing this knowledge gap. The study used data of 224 microcredit borrowers from Ada West and Ada East districts to analyse factors determining repayment rate among smallholder farmer borrowers. Applying the logistic regression model, farmer and credit specific characteristics were used to analyse the determinants of microcredit repayment. From the logistic regression, age, gender, income, and number of dependants increase the likelihood of repayment. However, membership of farmer based organization, experience, interest rate, and duration of loan repayment negatively influences loan repayment. The study also found delays in loan disbursement resulted in loan use for unproductive ventures and repayment challenges. In addition, lack of training for borrowers on credit management, and investment procedures adversely impacted on loan repayment. The paper recommends that MFIs should institute measures to train borrowers on loan utilization, focus on women clients, since they have higher probability of repayment, reduce interest rate as well as putting in place mechanisms to reduce cost of operations

Microcredit Repayment Among Smallholder Farmers: What Micofinance Institutions Need to Know

Microcredit default among borrowers has been rising in recent years but empirical evidence to ascertain the factors determining repayment remain lacking especially in developing countries like Ghana. This study contributes to addressing this knowledge gap. The study used data of 224 microcredit borrowers from Ada West and Ada East districts to analyse factors determining repayment rate among smallholder farmer borrowers. Applying the logistic regression model, farmer and credit specific characteristics were used to analyse the determinants of microcredit repayment. From the logistic regression, age, gender, income, and number of dependants increase the likelihood of repayment. However, membership of farmer based organization, experience, interest rate, and duration of loan repayment negatively influences loan repayment. The study also found delays in loan disbursement resulted in loan use for unproductive ventures and repayment challenges. In addition, lack of training for borrowers on credit management, and investment procedures adversely impacted on loan repayment. The paper recommends that MFIs should institute measures to train borrowers on loan utilization, focus on women clients, since they have higher probability of repayment, reduce interest rate as well as putting in place mechanisms to reduce cost of operations

Analysis of Parboiled Rice Processing in Northern Region of Ghana: Determinants, Constraints and Opportunities

This paper aims at understanding the current dynamics that underlie the parboil rice industry in the Northern Region of Ghana and the analysis focuses on the determinants, constraints, and opportunities. Study utilise recent primary data collected (March-April 2019) from 270 rice processors across two districts purposively selected. Quantitative analysis was done using Probit and non-parametric methods to identify determinants and rank constraints associated with local rice parboiling. The findings revealed that rice parboiling is the primary activity of women and Jasmine and AGRA rice is the most commonly varieties processed. Grades and standards for parboiling rice exist but enforcement in the marketplace is weak. Education level, age and experience of processors are the key determinants of rice parboiling in the Northern Region. Inadequate technical know-how, low capacity of processing equipment, lack of grades and standards, general low prices and demand, and lack of finance are the main constraints hindering the proper development of the local rice industry and efficient participation of households in markets. Emerging opportunities in the sector which women and youth could take advantage for better livelihoods includes sale to institutions (schools, prisons, and hospitals), packaging, and the government input subsidy programme

Analysis of Parboiled Rice Processing in Northern Region of Ghana: Determinants, Constraints and Opportunities

This paper aims at understanding the current dynamics that underlie the parboil rice industry in the Northern Region of Ghana and the analysis focuses on the determinants, constraints, and opportunities. Study utilise recent primary data collected (March-April 2019) from 270 rice processors across two districts purposively selected. Quantitative analysis was done using Probit and non-parametric methods to identify determinants and rank constraints associated with local rice parboiling. The findings revealed that rice parboiling is the primary activity of women and Jasmine and AGRA rice is the most commonly varieties processed. Grades and standards for parboiling rice exist but enforcement in the marketplace is weak. Education level, age and experience of processors are the key determinants of rice parboiling in the Northern Region. Inadequate technical know-how, low capacity of processing equipment, lack of grades and standards, general low prices and demand, and lack of finance are the main constraints hindering the proper development of the local rice industry and efficient participation of households in markets. Emerging opportunities in the sector which women and youth could take advantage for better livelihoods includes sale to institutions (schools, prisons, and hospitals), packaging, and the government input subsidy programme

Technical and Resource Use Efficiency of Urban Vegetable Farming in the Kumasi Metropolis: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

The changing food demands by the teeming urban population, job search, and sector profitability have made vegetable production indispensable as it contributes to increased incomes and livelihoods of urban dwellers.This study investigated the current level of productive efficiency (technical and allocative) of vegetable farmers in the Kumasi Metropolis using cross-sectional data obtained from 135 sampled farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using the stochastic frontier approach to estimate firm-specific technical efficiencies and the factors that influence efficiency levels. The results show that inefficiency exists among the sampled vegetable farmers as they currently achieve an average technical efficiency score of 66.7%. Allocative efficiency estimates for land and labour revealed that both factors of production are over utilised by farmers. The age of the farmer is the main socio-economic determinant of technical efficiency.The study recommends that farmers be educated on the correct use of inputs by extension agents. The government policy of recruiting community extension agents under the ‘planting for food and jobs’ programme is in line with addressing inefficiency in the production sector and should be promoted

Assessment of quantities and composition of corn stover in Ghana and their conversion into bioethanol

Corn stover (CS) has currently received great attention worldwide as a potential feedstock for the production of bioethanol as alternative renewable fuel or additive to gasoline. This work evaluates the quantities and chemical characteristics of the CS available in Ghana and their conversion into bioethanol. The average quantity of CS production in Ghana per year was estimated to be 1.77 × 106 t. The cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents of CS obtained from Pioneer 30 W 40, a local maize variety, were found to be 37.72 %, 20.62 %, and 30.50 %, respectively. Alkali pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of the CS yielded a reducing sugar concentration of 157.96 mg/ml within 24 h and an ethanol yield of 0.045 l/kg. It was estimated that 40 % of the average annual CS production has the potential of yielding 140.855 × 106 l of bioethanol