Factors Determining Enterprise Shift Behavior among Smallholder Cocoa Farmers in the Mpohor-Wassa East District in the Western Region of Ghana

Recent cutting of cocoa trees and the shifting of farm resources to only rubber cultivation among smallholder cocoa farmers particularly in the Western Region of Ghana has raised great concern. It is important to examine factors influencing enterprise-shift behavior among smallholder cocoa farmers. Interview schedules were administered to all smallholders of rubber plantation famers registered under the Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL)’s out-grower scheme at Mpohor. 150 smallholder cocoa farmers (except 35 absent) were interviewed for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression. About 73% of smallholder cocoa farmers were found to be shifting from cocoa to only rubber cultivation while the remaining 27% engage in both cocoa and rubber cultivation. The logit model reveals that family size and perception of investment outcome of their cocoa farms have a significant effect on their enterprise-shift behavior and decisions (P<0.01). It is recommended that government should address specific issues such as inadequate credit supply and low producer prices that affect the investment outcome of cocoa farm enterprise. Keywords: Enterprise shift, smallholder cocoa farmers, rubber cultivation, socio-economic determinants

The Impact of Postharvest Practices on the Poverty Status of Smallholder Cocoa Farmers. The Case of Ellembelle District in the Western Region of Ghana

Although Ghana is a major supplier of premium cocoa beans to the world market, low quality cocoa bean production by small scale farmers due to poor post-harvest practice can result in low annual income. This study was conducted to examine the effects of post-harvest practices on smallholder cocoa farmers’ poverty status in the Ellembelle district in Ghana. A total of 138 farmers were randomly sampled. With a poverty line at 50 percent of the national mean annual household income, the results indicate that 29.7 percent of the respondents are poor and the rest, 70.3 percent, are non-poor. Logistic analysis results reveal that two main variables, the number of days beans are fermented and the frequency that beans are turned during fermentation, are positive and significant in predicting the respondent’s financial ability to meet basic household and farm enterprise needs. Since all of the surveyed respondents failed to turn the beans for the required number times during heap fermentation, further training for the farmers on this technical competency is recommended. Key words: Postharvest practices, cocoa bean quality, annual income, poverty status

Comparison of Key Demographic Determinants of Absolute and Relative Poverty: An Empirical Analysis

Poverty comparison is the most important reason for measuring poverty; especially when two or more situations such as different poverty thresholds are likely to have different impacts on poverty measurements and outcomes. The main objective of this study is to estimate and compare the effects of key demographic determinants of absolute and relative poverty. The logit equations show gender, race, place of residence, and marital status to explain individual socioeconomic status, after adjusting for the various factors. Comparing the varying impacts of the key demographic factors when absolute and relative poverty thresholds are employed, each of the demographic factors has shown the same effect. However, each of the key demographic factors has a variable effect in explaining poverty when an absolute or relative poverty threshold was applied. Because the same demographic factors explain the likelihood of individuals living in absolute or relative poverty, it is important to consider the implication of the two different types of poverty when developing poverty reduction interventions. Keywords: Poverty comparison, demographic determinants, absolute poverty, relative poverty, median income

International Students’ Experience of Studying and Working at a Northeastern Public University in the US

This study explores international students’ experiences with studying and working at a North Eastern public university. Through phenomenological research approach that utilized face-to-face interview and photo-elicitation techniques, the personal experiences of twenty international students were captured. The findings of this study indicated that these students benefited from the responsibilities that resulted from their dual role as both students and employees in many ways. However, they also suffered from emotional and physical stress which resulted in tiredness, lack of sleep, role conflict, homesickness and frustration. Interestingly, these students effectively employed different coping mechanisms including finding social support, and participating in leisure and nonleisure activities to off-set the negative effects of studying and working concurrently

Improving Household Food Security: A Comparative Analysis of Freezing and Drying on Sensory Qualities of Mushroom

Postharvest loss remains one of the major causes of food insecurity in developing countries such as Ghana. While mushroom is consumed by many Ghanaian households, fresh harvested mushrooms have very limited storage life. The objective of this paper is to examine the effects of freezing and drying on the keeping and sensory qualities of mushroom.  In this study, mushroom samples, namely blanched frozen and unblanched frozen mushroom, were preserved by freezing and drying for a period of eight weeks. Portions of the four preserved samples as well as a control (fresh mushroom) were cooked in equal quantity, slightly seasoned with salt and lightly cooked. Thirteen panelists were involved in a consumer acceptability test in terms of color, texture, aroma, taste and overall acceptability using a nine-point hedonic scale. The results of paired sample t-tests indicated that blanched frozen sample followed by unblanched frozen and unblanched sundried were not statistically significantly different from the fresh mushroom sample in terms of sensory characteristics and overall acceptability. Color is a quality attribute, which together with aroma, taste and texture play an important role in consumer acceptability. It is recommended that fresh mushroom is preserved by blanched or unblanched freezing to avoid food spoilage and ensure food security at the household level. Keywords: food security, preservation, freezing, drying, sensory qualities, mushroom

Pesticide Use and Health Hazards among Small-Scale Commercial Vegetable Growers in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana

This study examined pesticide use practices and related health hazards in a specific region in Ghana. A cross section survey design was conducted among a sample of 150 small-scale commercial vegetable growers in the Nsawam Adoagyiri municipality in the Eastern region of Ghana. Information on demographic characteristics, pesticide practices and knowledge of health hazards in the interview schedule was administered to the respondents. Univariate and bivariate analyses were then conducted. The results of the study indicate that the mean score for all the various technical competencies of the vegetable farmers is 4.10 on the Likert scale of 1 to 5 and this could be attributed to training they received on pesticide use from extension agents. Not surprising, the respondents generally reported low levels of symptoms from health hazards with mean scores of headaches (1.5), excessive sweating (1.37), dizziness (1.22), diarrhea (1.06) and vomiting (1.04). However, the mean scores for eye irritation (2.65) and skin irritation (2.61) suggested they were common among many respondents based on not using personal protective clothing, including hand gloves (95.3%), face masks (98%), or overalls (96%). It is recommended that small-scale commercial vegetable growers’ access to and usage of personal protective clothing be promoted to reduce skin and eye irritation. Keywords: Pesticides, health hazards, commercial vegetable growers, small-scale farms  

Regional Productivity Differential and Technology Gap In African Agriculture: A Stochastic Metafrontier Approach

Higher agricultural productivity in African agriculture is important for achieving the sustainable development goals of no poverty and zero hunger. However, productivity levels in African agriculture are very low and strategies for improving productivity have not produced the desired outcome. Successful productivity improvement strategies are contingent on identifying sources of productivity growth in African agriculture, and devising strategies to increasing productivity. This paper uses recent advances in the stochastic metafrontier literature to decompose efficiency into technical efficiency and technology gap. Generally, the results show an average efficiency of 71%, indicating about 29% shortfall in efficiency in African agriculture. Specifically, the results show that Central African countries are more productive compared to the other regions. The study also showed that improved agricultural technologies lead to productivity increases. The source of inefficiency is attributable to technological inefficiency rather than technical inefficiency because the empirical estimates show that almost all countries are producing close to the regional frontier. Using the bootstrap truncated regression model, factors such as agricultural research & development, trade openness and literacy were determined as having efficiency increasing effects. The study therefore recommends greater investment in agricultural research and development, and more trade openness to reduce the technology gaps and increase overall productivity of African Agricultur