Determinants of Factors that Influence Small Ruminant Livestock Production Decisions in Northern Ghana: Application of Discrete Regression Model

The study applied Multinomial Logit (MNL) model to survey data from a sample of 249 farm households in northern Ghana. The model was used to investigate factors that influence farm families’ decisions to raise a particular small ruminant species (i.e., sheep or goat or both). The MNL analysis indicates that the probability of raising sheep, goat or both animals was influenced by agro-ecological zone, sex and religious background of farmers, risk attitude and income from small ruminant production. In devising strategies (to select farm households) to improve subsistent small ruminant production system, livestock technical staffs must recognize important demographic and farm characteristics as well as risk and income perceptions associated with sheep and goat of the households. In addition, such programs must be supported with improved livestock housing technology that can provide opportunities to control sheep and goat production risks, including theft or predator attacks, disease infestation and exposure to harsh environmental conditions (rains and sun rays). Keywords: Multinomial logit model, small ruminant, farm household, northern Ghan

Is there any economics in smallholder cocoyam production? Evidence from the forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana

Abstract Background Cocoyam is an important food security crop in Ghana because it stores better than all other root and tuber crops. Despite its socio-economic relevance, production has declined persistently since the last decade. This study attempts to examine the profitability of cocoyam production to smallholders in Ghana by estimating the returns on critical production resources. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 150 cocoyam producers were randomly sampled across three major producing regions in Ghana. Results Empirical results reveal that cocoyam production is generally not profitable given the present cost of capital in Ghana, suggesting why farmers are shifting from its production. A disaggregated analysis reveals that producers in Fanteakwa district have a competitive advantage over their counterparts in Asante Akyem South and Asunafo North districts in terms of relative profitability owing to higher yield and better produce price at terminal markets. Gross margin, net profit, and returns on assets, land as well as unpaid labour and management significantly varied across districts. Producing cocoyam on sole crop basis was found to significantly return higher than the predominant intercropping culture of production. Apart from production cost, gross margins, net income and returns to critical production factors under the mono-cropping system were found to be significantly higher, at 5% significance level, compared to the intercropping system. Conclusion The study concludes that smallholder cocoyam production is presently not profitable, and hence, production scales have reduced to subsistence levels. Due to higher yield and better produce prices, Fanteakwa farmers have a competitive advantage over other producing districts. Production under the mono-cropping system is relatively profitable than under the intercropping system. However, the financial leverage of cocoyam production could be enhanced via policy alternatives directed at ensuring farmers’ access to and intensification of productive inputs

Health Risk Perception on Excreta Reuse for Peri-urban Agriculture in Southern Ghana

Access to proper sanitation and disposal sites for faecal sludge is problematic in Ghana, particularly in peri-urban communities. Using a cross-sectional household-level survey data, this study investigates farmers’ perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse for peri-urban agriculture in Shai-Osudoku district in Ghana. It was found that a majority of the farmers ‘disagree’ that excreta are a waste and are willing to use excreta as fertilizer, albeit a majority ‘agreeing’ perception that excreta reuse can pose health risks. Empirical results from an ordered probit model show that the decision to use excreta as fertilizer is more related to perceptions on excreta as a resource rather than personal and farm characteristics. However, there is some relationship between personal and farm characteristics and perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse for agricultural purpose. There is also a strong relationship between the perception that excreta are a waste and perceptions on the health risks of excreta reuse. Programmes aimed at promoting improved sanitation should consider the reuse potential of excreta in agriculture, as attested by the farmers as a resource for crop production. There is the need to educate farmers on how excreta could properly be handled and used in agriculture. Other policy options toward risk reducing strategies that involve relevant government institutions and the local media should also be considered to avoid any health hazards associated with excreta reuse in agriculture. Keywords: Sanitation, Excreta reuse, Health risk perception, Peri-urban agriculture, Ghana 1. Introductio

Willingness to Pay for Faecal Compost by Farmers in Southern Ghana

The use of faecal waste for agricultural production is practiced by farmers in most parts of Ghana. However, information about farmer acceptability and willingness to pay is not widely reported.  Using choice experiment, this study analyse willingness to pay for faecal compost by farmers in Ningo-Prampram and Shai-Osudoku in Southern Ghana. Data was collected from 200 randomly sampled farming households and analysed using basic and hybrid conditional logit models. Results show farmers’ marginal willingness to pay values of US$0.51 for packaging only, US$ 0.32 for labeling only and US$ 0.82 for packaging and labeling of 50kg faecal compost. Farmers` willingness to pay was significantly influenced by their knowledge on faecal waste re-use in agriculture and experience with use of animal manure. Product attributes such as price, packaging and labeling as well as farmer’s socio-demographic characteristics, such as monthly household income, household size and age also significantly influence farmers’ willingness to pay. Keywords: Choice Experiment, hybrid Conditional Logit, Faecal Compost, Ghan

Improving Soya Bean Productivity for Poverty Alleviation and Food Security in Upper West Region of Ghana: A Resource Use Efficiency Analysis

Soya bean is an important economic crop for smallholder farming systems in Upper West Region of Ghana. In spite of the introduction of modern and improved soya bean production technologies in Ghana, the productivity of the crop in the region is still low. Given that inefficient use of resources is a potential course of low yields, this study analyses the resource use efficiency of soya bean production. Using cross-sectional data collected from 271 soya bean farmers from the Upper West Region of Ghana, the study employed the Stochastic Frontier Translog Production Function as well as the ratio of Marginal Value Product to Marginal Factor Cost to understand the resource use efficiency of soya bean farmers in the region. The empirical results showed that the estimated coefficients of soya bean seeds, labor and farm size were significant and positively related to soya bean output even though fertilizer input was surprisingly significantly and negatively related to the output of soya bean. Also, resources employed in soya bean production were found not to be efficiently utilized as they were underutilized, indicating that yield and profit could be improved with optimal use of production inputs. Finally, the paper revealed that access to soya bean threshers is the most important constraint faced by farmers in the region. For the region’s soya bean yield to be improved, government and development organizations should assist soya bean farmers by removing major bottlenecks to acquisition of resources required for the production and postharvest handling of the crop

Households’ Latrine Preference and Financing Mechanisms in Peri-urban Ghana

Using household-level survey data, this study investigates households’ latrine preference and financing mechanisms for improved latrines in the Ningo-Prampram district in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Descriptive and inferential analyses are employed for data analysis and reporting. The results of the study show that a majority of the sampled households practice open defecation due to lack of funds and space for an improved latrine. Most of the households prefer the flush/pour-flush to the piped sewer system latrine or the ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine. About half of the households prefer to use own funds via savings or ‘susu’ to build their latrines, and very few prefer funds from the financial institutions (FIs), albeit the FIs are interested in providing loans for household latrines. Empirical results from a binary logistic model show that there is some relationship between households’ latrine financing decisions and their socioeconomic and community characteristics, such as gender, education, household composition, income, tenancy, type of defecating practiced and type of community. The study recommends the need to educate households to consider ‘cheaper’ and more feasible latrine technologies, and also adopt joint-resource mobilization strategies for their latrines. There is also the need to educate the households on the possibility and conditions for alternative sources of funds for improved latrines. Policy efforts by the government and other stakeholders toward a sustainable uptake of improved sanitation should also consider the household and community factors that may influence a household’s latrine preference and financing decision. Keywords: Household latrine, financing mechanism, peri-urban Ghana, SUS

Farmers’ perception about quality of planted seed yam and their preferences for certified seed yam in Ghana

The study examined the effect of farmers’ perception about the quality of seed yam typically used for cultivation on their preferences for certified seed yam. Heckman’s sample selectivity probit model was applied on survey data collected from 380 yam farmers. The study found that farmers generally agree that the use of certified seed yam would help to improve yield because of minimum to no disease/pest infestation. Farmers expressed their willingness to purchase certified seed yam if the price is about 26% higher than those supplied from the informal system in as much as the quality can be assured. The study found that farmer educational level, experience, access to extension services and household incomes were factors influencing farmers’ perception about quality of seed yam cultivated. Variables such as age, educational level and income were also found to be factors that influence farmers’ preference for certified seed yam. The results were similar for both Pona and other white yam varieties. The study recommends promotion of farmer education through increased access to extension services on seed quality assessment together with other agronomic practices including farmer field schools, to help improve their ability to assess the quality of seed yam obtained from other sources as well as increase their preference for certified seed yam

A latent class modelling approach to evaluating farmers’ preferences for pona seed yam certification systems and their willingness to pay in Ghana

The study employed choice experiment and latent class model to assess farmers’ preferences for seed yam certification system and their willingness to pay for certified seed yam in selected yam producing Districts in Ghana. A total of 9120 choice experiments were conducted to elicit data from 380 yam farmers. The study identified three classes/ market segments of farmers regarding preferences for Pona seed yam. The results show that farmers have more utility towards fully certified seed yam and are willing to pay GH¢719.60 (US$189.4) for a bunch (100 tubers weighing about 45kg) of fully certified seed yam. However, farmers were found to have high utility towards medium-sized Pona seed yam and are willing to pay a premium of GHC¢12.5 (US$3.3) for this attribute. The study has demonstrated high potential for the commercialization of seed yam production in Ghana through a formal seed yam certification system

Consumers’ Familiarity and Use of Natural Health Products

Many consumers are familiar with herbs but are consumers familiar with products produced out of herbs? Even though WHO (2001) states that in Africa, approximately 80% of the population takes some form of herbal remedies; the type of herbal product used for the herbal remedy is unknown. Investors in the herbal industry are aware of the industry’s lucrativeness but the target market and product type to concentrate on become a problem. It is confusing how a lucrative business attracts less investors. It would be interesting to investigate into consumers’ familiarity and use of natural health products since it has the potential of creating jobs in the agribusiness sector. Kumasi and Accra metropolitan were the target area because they are representative of Ghana due to high migration of people from the various regions to these metropolitans. The two-stage sampling technique was used with a total sample size of three hundred and eighty-five (385). More than twice of consumers are familiar and have used herbal medicine than herbal food supplement. For herbal medicine, herbal mixture and herbal cream is widely used than herbal capsules. The researcher recommends that investors and entrepreneurs should focus more on herbal medicine than herbal food supplement since many consumers are familiar and have used herbal medicine. Lastly, the herbal industry should target the older generation rather than the younger generation