Measuring Market Potential for Fresh Organic Fruit and Vegetable in Ghana

This paper examines the market potential for fresh organic lettuce and water melon with a recently collected data on consumers from Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Using a doublebounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation technique, consumer’s willingness to pay is estimated with a Tobit model to address the zero willingness to pay responses in the sample data. As much as 71% of the consumers are willing to pay over 50% price premiums for organic vegetables and over 82% are willing to pay 1%–50% price premiums for organic fruits. The empirical results indicate that human capital, product attributes and consumer perception influence consumers’ willing to pay for organic food products. The estimated market potential for organic fruit is GH¢32,117,113 (US$26,453,433) per annum and that of organic vegetable is GH¢1,991,224 (US$1,640,083) per annum suggesting a huge market potential for organic fruits in Ghana.Willingness to Pay, Price Premium, Organic Products, Consumer Perception, Market Potential, Africa, Crop Production/Industries,

아프리카 가나에서 남획과 석유산업이 어촌 생계에 미치는 영향

학위논문(박사)--서울대학교 대학원 :사회과학대학 지리학과,2020. 2. Edo Andriesse.본 박사학위논문은 아프리카 가나 서부의 남획과 석유 산업이 연안지역사회 소규모 어민들의 생계에 어떤 영향을 미치는지를 연구하였다. 어업과 석유 부문의 공식 및 비공식 행위자와의 상호 작용과 이들 행위자가 어민들의 생계 적응 전략을 어떻게 형성했는지 확인하였다. 연구방법은 400명의 어민 가구들을 대상으로 한 설문조사와 42명의 핵심 이해관계자들을 대상으로 한 인터뷰를 혼합하여 채택하였다. 설문조사와 인터뷰는 2018년 12월에서 2019년 4월 사이에 가나에서 Shama 지역의 Apo와 Bentsir, Nzema East 지역의 Axim, Ahanta West의 Discove와 Akiwidaa, 그리고 Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis 지역의 Sekondi와 New Takoradi에서 실시하였다. 설문조사와 인터뷰 응답자는 눈덩이 표집법과 의도적 표집법을 통해 선발되었다. 설문에는 객관식, 단답식, 서술식 질문이 포함되었다. 단답식 그리고 객관식 질문들을 통해서는 응답자들이 특정 답변을 선택하도록, 서술식 질문을 통해서는 현지 어업 관련 경험과 기타 문제에 대해 자유롭게 서술하도록 하였다. 설문조사 결과는 사회과학자를 위한 IBM SPSS 버전 21.0과 Excel 프로그램을 통해 분석하였다. 인터뷰 결과는 주제별로 답변을 기록하고 번역하였다. 설문조사와 인터뷰의 결과는 아프리카 가나 서부 지역의 어민들이 어획량과 어업 기회 감소로 인해 사회경제적 취약성이 높다는 것을 보여준다. 어획량과 소득의 감소는 남획이 어업 생계에 미치는 가장 큰 영향의 결과인 것이 밝혀졌다. 어민들의 이동 제한, 어구의 파괴 및 몰수, 해초의 존재 및 토지 기회의 부족은 석유 산업에 의해 유발되는 생계 위협의 주요 요인들이다. 남획과 석유 시추 활동의 결합 효과는 해상 어업 공간 감소, 토지 소유 및 농업 기회의 제한, 해양 생태계 파괴로 이어졌다. 전반적으로, 자연적(natural), 재정적(financial), 인적(human), 물리적(physical) 자본이 남획과 석유 산업의 영향을 가장 많이 받는 것으로 나타났다. 현지 어민들과 공동체 지도자들은 금어기(禁漁期, closed fishing season)에 대해 다른 평가를 가지고 있었다. 설문조사와 인터뷰에 따르면, 어부들은 금어기 시행보다는 불법 어업에 대한 법률을 시행하는 것을 선호하고 있었다. 어민과 지도자들의 상충되는 의견은 (1) 금어기 도입에 따른 어민들의 재정적, 자연적, 문화적 자본의 감소와, (2) 의사 결정 과정에서의 참여 수준의 결과로 보인다. 전반적으로 이와 관련하여 두 가지 다른 정치적 담론이 충돌하는 현상이 나타났다. 한쪽은 연안 공동체의 소규모 어민들의 입장으로, 수산법을 엄격하게 시행하는 동시에 모든 어민들이 자유롭게 바다를 사용하는 개방 담론이다. 다른 한쪽은 정부와 환경 NGO들의 입장으로, 해양 자원의 장기적인 지속 가능성을 위해 계절적으로 바다의 사용을 금지하는 보존 담론이다. 개방 담론은 최근 제시되고 있는 과학적 결과들에 의해 보존 담론에 의해 위축되고 있음이 여러 사례 지역에서 발견되고 있다. 현지 어민들과 석유 기업 사이에서 발생하는 갈등은 해상 유전 주변의 구역(버퍼 구역 500~1,000m)에서 주로 발생한다. 이 지역은 어업적으로 그리고 생태학적으로 매우 중요한 곳이며 상당한 석유 및 가스 매장량을 보유하고 있다. 한편으로 지역 어민들은 유전 주변의 비옥한 어장에 대한 장기적인 사용을 유지하고자 한다. 반면, 석유 및 가스 회사는 석유 탐사 및 생산을 유지하기 위해 동일한 해저에 대한 사용권을 얻고자 한다. 지역 어민들이 전개한 해양 공간 내 이동을 통한 생계 전략은 단기적인 대처 전략으로 해석된다. 서부 지역 어민들 사이에서는 빛과 화학 물질을 사용한 불법 및 파괴적인 어업 방법이 유행하고 있다. 어민들의 경험을 바탕으로 한 적응 전략이 중요하지만, 지속 가능하지 못하며 불법적인 방법들은 해양 어류의 재건에서 역효과를 낳고 있다. 본 논문은 지속 가능한 생계 접근과 정치생태학에서 파생된 행위자 중심 접근을 통합하였고, 이를 통해 해안의 취약성과 적응 전략을 이해하고 해양 자원의 재건에 대한 담론들을 이해하는 분석틀을 제공했다는 점에서 의의가 있다.This study is concerned with how overfishing and the petroleum industry has affected the livelihoods of small-scale fisherfolk in the coastal communities of Western Region. It investigates the interaction between formal and informal actors in the fisheries and the petroleum sector and the ways in which these actors influence or shape the livelihood adaptation strategies deployed by coastal fisherfolk. A mixed- methods approach made up of 400 fisherfolk households survey and 42 interviews with stakeholders in the fisheries and the petroleum industries were conducted.. The surveys and interviews were conducted between December 2018 and April 2019 in Ghana. A total of 400 households survey was conducted in Shama (Apo & Bentsir), Nzema East (Axim), Ahanta West (Discove & Akwidaa) and in the (Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis) Sekondi & New Takoradi. Respondents for the survey and interviews were selected through snowballing and purposive sampling techniques respectively. The questionnaire included closed, open and multiple-choice questions. The closed ended and multiple choice questions permitted respondents to select specific choice of answers while the open ended questions offered the respondents the opportunity to freely talk about their experiences and knowledge related to the local fishing industry and other relevant issues concerning the marine conservation. The statistical package for social scientist IBM SPSS Version 21.0 and Excel spreadsheet were used to analyze the results from the household surveys. The results from the interviews were translated and transcribed where applicable and organized into relevant thematic themes. The survey results coupled with the knowledge obtained from interviews shows that fisherfolk in the Western Region of Ghana are under high levels of socioeconomic vulnerability because of decrease fish catch and declining small-scale fisheries opportunities. Decreased fish catch and low income were found to be the main impact of overfishing on fisherfolk livelihoods. The spatial restriction of fishers mobility offshore, the destruction and confiscation of fishing gear, the presence of seaweed in the ocean, and the lack of land opportunities are some of the key petroleum industry-induced stressors on fisheries livelihoods. The combined effects of overfishing and oil and gas activities has resulted in decreased fishing space at sea, limited land ownership and farming opportunities and destruction of marine ecosystem. Overall, the natural, financial, human and physical capital were find to be the most impacted by overfishing and the petroleum industry. Fisherfolk and local fisheries leaders had different perceptions regarding the ecological effectiveness of closed seasons. The survey results coupled with the knowledge obtained from interviews suggest that fisherfolk prefer the state to enforce the laws on illegal fishing rather than the implementation of closed season. The conflicting perceptions appear to be a result of fisherfolk perceived impact of closed season on their financial, cultural and natural capital as well as their level of participation and perceived influence in decision-making leading to the introduction of the closed season. Overall, two different discursive positions were established with respect to the closed season. An open access fisheries narrative together with strict enforcement of fisheries laws and seasonal closures supported by conservation discourses. The open access argument from the fisherfolk to continue fishing were found to be weak compared to the powerful and dominant scientific conservation narratives by the state and the NGOs. The conflict produced between the local fishers and the petroleum industry occurs at strategic spatial areas at sea (buffer zones -500&1000m radius) around oil fields offshore. These areas are considered ecologically fertile grounds for fisheries and holds considerable oil and gas reserves. On the one hand local fishers seeks to maintain long term access to fertile fishing grounds around the oil fields. On the other hand, oil and gas companies also wants to keep oil reserves in the same seabed to maintain oil exploration and production. The marine spatial mobility livelihood strategies deployed by the local fisherfolk could be described as a short-term coping strategies. Illegal light fishing and other destructive fishing methods such as the use of chemicals is on the increase and are more prevalent among fisherfolk in the Western Region. The various in situ marine-based adaptation strategies deployed by fisherfolk, especially illegal light fishing and fishing around oil rigs, are unsustainable and are counterproductive in the rebuilding of depleted marine fish stocks. The integration of the sustainable livelihoods approach and an actor-oriented approach derived from political ecology served as an important analytical package to understand the current coastal vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies as well as the opposing discourses over the rebuilding of marine resources.Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Study Background 1 1.2 Research problem 3 1.3 Study objective and research questions 6 1.4 Research method 7 1.4.1 Data gathering techniques 9 1.4.2 Data analysis and interpretation of results 12 1.5 Organization of the study 16 Chapter 2. Literature Review 19 2.1. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach 19 2.1.1 Livelihood assets 20 2.1.2 The vulnerability context 23 2.1.3 Policies, Institutions and Processes (PIP) 24 2.1.4 Livelihood strategies and outcomes 25 2.2 Political Ecology 27 2.2.1 Themes/Approaches of Political Ecology 28 2.2.2 Power and actor-oriented political ecology 30 2.3 Rational for the integration of SLA and Political ecology (PE) 33 2.3.1 Analytical framework of study 33 Chapter 3. Case study introduction 38 3.1 Introduction to Ghana 38 3.1.1 Western Region of Ghana. 40 3.2 Fisheries management & governance in Ghana 44 3.3 Structure and overview of Ghanas marine fishing sector 54 3.3.1 Increasing capacity amidst decreasing fish catch 57 3.4 The emerging oil and gas industry in Ghana. 62 3.4.1 The petroleum industry, environmental impacts and conflicts: lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa. 64 Chapter 4. Coastal Vulnerabilities and Conflicts Management. 67 4.1 Overview of Household Survey 67 4.2 Impacts of overfishing on the livelihoods of fisherfolk 71 4.3 Impacts of the petroleum industry on the livelihoods of fisherfolk. 74 4.3.1 Livelihood situation before and after oil and gas extraction and production. 77 4.4 Differences and commonalities of vulnerabilities within and among the study areas 80 4.5 Contesting access to the use of coastal waters: The political ecology of closed season. 83 4.5.1 Bottom-up initiatives verse top down approaches 89 4.6 Differences and commonalities of local support for marine conservation 95 4.7 Negotiating marine space in coastal Ghana: the political ecology of fishing and the petroleum industry. 98 Chapter 5. Livelihood Adaptation Strategies 109 5.1 Non-marine based adaptation strategies 109 5.2 Marine –based adaptation strategies. 114 5.3 local area differences and commonalities 131 5.4 Towards an all-inclusive and participatory fisheries governance and management. 137 Chapter 6. Conclusion 142 6.1 Key findings 142 6.2 Empirical and theoretical contributions 144 6.3 Policy Recommendations 149 6.4 Limitations of the study and future research 151 Bibliography 153 APPENDIXES 168 Abstract in Korean. 190 Acknowledgements 193Docto

Property rights and investment in agriculture: Evidence for Ghana

This article develops a theoretical framework to examine the relationship between land tenure agreements and households’ investment in land improvement and conservation measures. It then analyzes this relationship with a multivariate probit model based on a survey data from a sample of 560 plots belonging to 246 farmers from 6 villages in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. A major hypothesis tested is that investment in productivity enhancing and conservation techniques are influenced by land tenure systems. The theoretical analysis and empirical results generally reveal that land tenure differences significantly influence farmers’ decisions to invest in land improvement and conservation measures. Furthermore, reduced-form productivity regressions show that tenure differences do affect land productivity.Land tenure; property rights; investment; optimal control; multivariate probit

Education Expenditures and Economic Growth: Evidence from Ghana

This study investigated the relationship between education expenditure and economic growth in Ghana.   Vector error correction and cointegration analysis are employed to test for the causal relationship between the variables for the period 1970 to 2012. The empirical results show a positive and significant long-run relationship between education expenditures and real GDP, gross capital formation as well labor force participation. The results indicate that education contributes meaningfully to the long-term growth of Ghana’s economy. Also, in the short-run, Granger causality runs both directions between economic growth and education expenditures. The results may provide some insights into how the formulation and implementation of appropriate fiscal policies relating to education could help improve the quality of education and thereby contributes to economic development of Ghana. Additionally, the study may serve as a guide in the reform of Ghana’s education policies leading to improved learning and educational outcomes. Keywords: Economic growth, Education Expenditure, Vector Error Correction Mode

Do Tenure Differences Influence the Improvement of Quality of Rented Land? Empirical Evidence from Rural Ghana

The implications of migrant agricultural production for the environment have interested policy makers in sub-Saharan Africa of late. The impacts in the region of migrant destination may be short-term including initial felling of trees, intensive land use, and application of techniques. In the longer term, tenants are expected to adjust their techniques to that of the indigenous landowners. This paper explains how migrant tenants manage the quality of rented plots in the absence of clearly defined property rights with a survey data from rural area in Ghana. An empirical model explaining the probability to invest in land improvements is formulated. The empirical results indicate that tenure differences and income levels of migrants and indigenous landowners play a critical role in investments in land improvements.Land Economics/Use,

The Development and Promotion of Sweet Potato Yoghurt in Ghana: Implications for Sustainable Production and Consumption Policies

This paper analyzes how a newly developed food product (potagurt) with nutritional and health benefits can be promoted in Ghana. We employ the hedonic modeling and contingent valuation methods to estimate monetary values attached to the product's attributes using 400 consumers in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions of Ghana. The findings reveal that consumers have positive perceptions on the health and nutritional benefits of the product. Buyers place a higher value on potagurt relative to normal yogurt. The high value attached to potagurt is mainly linked to the health, nutritional, food safety, and quality attributes of the product, as well as perception. Consumers' socioeconomic factors such as income, educational, and awareness levels also play a significant role in explaining their choice of the product. The practical implication is that the development and promotion of potagurt could stimulate sustainable economic development through better consumer health and improvement in the livelihoods of many players in the sweet potato value chain, especially the producers of potagurt and sweet potato farmers. We conclude that the promotion of the innovative food product could contribute to sustainable production and consumption of sweet potatoes

Joint Adoption of Safer Irrigation Technologies under Uncertainty: Evidence from Ghana

This paper examines joint adoption of safer irrigation technologies under uncertainty. The new irrigation technologies introduced in sub-Saharan Africa aim at ensuring safer vegetable production when untreated wastewater is used as irrigation water. The main hypothesis tested is that profit and health-related uncertainties influence adoption of safer irrigation technologies. The study employed a cross-sectional data on urban and periurban vegetable farmers in Kumasi of Ghana and examines theoretically and empirically, these possible technology adoption uncertainties, and other relevant factors which influence farmers’ adoption decisions. The empirical results indicate that apart from household and farm characteristics, profit and health-related uncertainties influence adoption of irrigation technologies for safer vegetable production

Editorial: Climate change, variability and sustainable food systems

Peer Reviewe

Macroeconomic Variables and Stock Market Returns: Full Information Maximum Likelihood Estimation

This study examines the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns using monthly data over period January 1992 to December, 2008. Macroeconomic variables used in this study are consumer price index (as a proxy for inflation), crude oil price, exchange rate and 91 day Treasury bill rate (as a proxy for interest rate). Full Information Maximum Likelihood Estimation procedure was used in establishing the relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock market returns in Ghana. The empirical results reveal that there is a significant relationship between stock market returns and three macroeconomic variables; consumer price index (inflation rate), exchange rate and Treasury bill rate seem to affect stock market returns. Consumer price index (Inflation rate) had a positive significant effect, while exchange rate and Treasury bill rate had negative significant influence on stock market returns. On the other hand, crude oil prices do not appear to have any significant effect on stock returns. The results may provide some insight to corporate managers, investors and policy makers. Key words: stock market returns, inflation rate, crude oil price, exchange rate, interest rate, Ghan

Cocoa agroforestry a bridge for sustainable organic cocoa production

In Ghana cocoa constitute about 85 percent of the foreign export earnings from agriculture and also the main source of the wealth to over 800,000 people of the forest regions. Cocoa naturally requires shade which offers farmers agronomic, economic, cultural and ecological benefits. The promotion and adoption of hybrid cocoa varieties is causing a drift from shaded cocoa to the no shade. The study evaluated the impact shade levels had on the yield of cocoa under the different cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana. Research data were collected from 200 cocoa farmers in the Sefwi Wiawso district by means of multistage sampling technique through household structured interviews and focus group discussions. Both descriptive statistics and yield curve model were used to analyse the data. Results showed that average yield per hectare of the no shade, low shade, medium shade and heavy shade were 794kg/Ha, 696kg/Ha, 735kg/Ha and 546kg/Ha respectively. The yield curve under the no shade system shows a sharp rise in the yield and followed by a very sharp fall in the yield after age 16. The medium shade has a gradual yield till it peaks at age 19 followed by a gradual fall in yield to age 80. Outreach focusing on medium shade cocoa agroforestry system may be the most effective way of building organic bridges in cocoa production