ABSTRACT Irrigation is a priority development agenda item in Ghana and other countries in sub-Sah... more ABSTRACT Irrigation is a priority development agenda item in Ghana and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a genuine endeavor to increase public and large-scale private investment in the sector. The on-going smallholder-driven private irrigation development that is largely based on water lifting technologies is not yet fully appreciated. We propose that smallholders themselves can play a significant role in achieving national irrigation development plans, provided they have access to water lifting technologies, especially small motorized pumps. We analyze adoption patterns and constraints pertaining to water lifting technologies in Ghana and suggest interventions that would enhance wider dissemination. Currently, these technologies are largely accessible only to better-off farmers. The primary factors inhibiting wider application are poorly developed supply chains, lack of access to finance, high operational and maintenance costs, high output price risks, and lack of institutional support. To realize the potential of water lifting technologies, improvements are required in the entire value chain of lift irrigation systems.
The authors examined cocoa farmers’ participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, impa... more The authors examined cocoa farmers’ participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, impacts of livelihood outcomes (human, physical, financial, and social capitals) on participation, and implications of participation on productivity and per capita expenditure. We used cross-sectional data from 150 cocoa farmers. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, heteroskedastic probit, and doubly robust augmented inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model (AIPW). More than half of cocoa farmers participated in FBS. Financial capital (income and loan accessibility) and social capital (farmer group membership) positively influenced participation in FBS. Nevertheless, human capital (ability to pay medical bills) and physical capital (number of sleeping rooms) negatively influenced participation in FBS. Knowledge and skills cocoa farmers obtained from FBS are new farming methods, creativity in solving farming problems, record keeping, and managerial skills. Participat...
Die Studie schätzt die Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Pflanzenkohle aus Ackerland in Bezug auf di... more Die Studie schätzt die Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Pflanzenkohle aus Ackerland in Bezug auf die landwirtschaftlichen Einnahmen und die Ernährungssicherheit in Tamale (Ghana) und Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Die Daten wurden zufällig bei 175 Freilandbauern in Tamale und 220 in Ouagadougou erhoben. Die Simulation von durch Pflanzenkohle verursachten Veränderungen der Bodenqualität in Bezug auf die Landproduktivität ergab eine erwartete Steigerung der Produktion um 15% in Ouagadougou und um 3% in Tamale. Dies entspricht einer durchschnittlichen Steigerung der Gesamtproduktion je Landwirt in Ouagadougou um 518 USD und in Tamale um 57 USD. Auf der Grundlage dieses Ergebnisses ist die ausreichende Voraussetzung für den Einsatz von Pflanzenkohle in Tamale nicht erfüllt, und die Landwirte werden voraussichtlich keine Änderungen vornehmen. Im Fall von Ouagadougou wird die Anreicherung von Ackerland mit Pflanzenkohle große Auswirkungen auf den Anbau der Kulturpflanzen haben.
Gender roles in agriculture can be quite specific, not only in view of particular labor inputs du... more Gender roles in agriculture can be quite specific, not only in view of particular labor inputs during the production cycle but also in terms of who farms and who trades certain crops. Using data collected over ten years in West Africa, this study looked at market-oriented urban vegetable production in West Africa and Ghana in particular. Gender disaggregated data on key issues such as access and control of resources, division of tasks, decision-making process and challenges faced was collected from farmers and traders. With several exceptions, a clear gender distinction emerged across the sub-region: men dominate urban vegetable farming, while women manage vegetable marketing. The general differentiation is attributed to societal norms, but other factors play a role as well. Female farmers, for example, feel constrained by existing irrigation practices that are energy-intensive and conflict with household duties. Male farmers, on the other hand, feel significantly oppressed by their...
17 December 2007 Irrigated vegetable farming is a common practice in and around many cities in lo... more 17 December 2007 Irrigated vegetable farming is a common practice in and around many cities in low-income countries. It is also an important means for attaining urban food security and balanced diets, and it provides a livelihood to many urban dwellers. However, increasing contamination of irrigation water sources makes this practice a major risk factor for public health, especially as most vegetables grown are consumed raw. Urban vegetable farmers in Ghana use different water sources for irrigation, depending on the location of their farming sites. Surface water is most commonly used as it is easily accessible and thus most economical. Farmers collect it from streams, stormwater drains and gutters with greywater. However, these water sources are usually heavily contaminated with untreated wastewater.
ABSTRACT Vegetable production is practiced in urban and peri-urban settings in many countries, wh... more ABSTRACT Vegetable production is practiced in urban and peri-urban settings in many countries, where agricultural lands are decreasing. Farmers need to understand how to manage pests when production is in close proximity to people, especially since they have adopted intensive agricultural practices where more synthetic chemicals are used to control pests. Other issues including climate change, rapid urbanization, limited access to resources – land, training, and technology influence pest management strategies. A mixed method was used to collect data which examined how farmer interactions with other actors and technologies have influenced management of pest infestations and profits. All farmers in Tamale intensively cultivate cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and we noted differences in profitability between farmers with, and without, formal training. There was a positive association between long-term farm experience and good pest management practices. Farmers with >10 years experience growing cabbage were more mindful of pre-harvest intervals in respect to pesticide application compared to those with less-farming experience. Farmer-to-farmer transfer was the most efficient way of disseminating agricultural information and creates an opportunity for sharing information on integrated pest management. There is a need for the creation of formal farmer–farmer training and education by government extension officers, building on informal opportunities provided by farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer on safe handling, storage, and application of pesticides in peri-urban and urban farms.
ABSTRACT West Africa's rice imports currently satisfy 70% of the soaring local demand, wo... more ABSTRACT West Africa's rice imports currently satisfy 70% of the soaring local demand, worsening the food vulnerability of an increasingly urbanized population. Despite considerable rice-growing potential, lack of water control systems, access to improved seeds, agrochemicals and appropriate mechanization have resulted in modest production growth rates, unable to alter the region's dependency on imported rice. Governments aim to boost production with import duties and input subsidies. However, questions remain as to whether these policies enable the rice sector to respond to changing consumers preferences for high grade rice and to contribute to national economic growth. We present the results from a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) on rice production in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger and under three water management systems: irrigation (public scheme), supplemented rain-fed (rainfall aided by autonomously-sourced water supplies) and purely rain-fed. Our results show that policy interventions in these West African countries (i.e., input subsidies and import taxes) did not significantly enhance the profitability of rice production to farmers due to the effect of market failures (limited capital access and non-competitive market for rice) and the low quality of local milled rice. The PAM results point strongly to the importance of improving rice quality and yields through more efficient water management and post-harvest handling/processing and targeted breeding to match consumers' preferences.
ABSTRACT This paper explores gender aspects of smallholders’ private technology adoption for grou... more ABSTRACT This paper explores gender aspects of smallholders’ private technology adoption for groundwater irrigation in Ghana and Zambia. It focuses on two variables of quantitative farm-household surveys: household headship and gendered plot management. The paper compares adoption rates and types of technologies for female- and male-headed households; examines adoption rates when women have their own plots; and compares women’s decision making on irrigated plots and rainfed plots. The findings suggest that there are largely untapped synergies between gender-equality and irrigation-policy goals. Systematic gender differentiation in surveys is recommended.
The publications in this series record the work and thinking of IWMI researchers, and knowledge t... more The publications in this series record the work and thinking of IWMI researchers, and knowledge that the Institute’s scientific management feels is worthy of documenting. This series will ensure that scientific data and other information gathered or prepared as a part of the research work of the Institute are recorded and referenced. Working Papers could include project reports, case studies, conference or workshop proceedings, discussion papers or reports on progress of research, country-specific research reports, monographs, etc. Working Papers may be copublished, by IWMI and partner organizations. Although most of the reports are published by IWMI staff and their collaborators, we welcome contributions from others. Each report is reviewed internally by IWMI staff. The reports are published and distributed both in hard copy and electronically (www.iwmi.org) and where possible all data and analyses will be available as separate downloadable files. Reports may be copied freely and c...
Although the different roles of men and women in agriculture in different parts of Sub-Saharan Af... more Although the different roles of men and women in agriculture in different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been widely acknowledged, there have not been consistent efforts to collect data on these patterns. This paper presents a way of classifying gendered farm ...
ABSTRACT Irrigation is a priority development agenda item in Ghana and other countries in sub-Sah... more ABSTRACT Irrigation is a priority development agenda item in Ghana and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a genuine endeavor to increase public and large-scale private investment in the sector. The on-going smallholder-driven private irrigation development that is largely based on water lifting technologies is not yet fully appreciated. We propose that smallholders themselves can play a significant role in achieving national irrigation development plans, provided they have access to water lifting technologies, especially small motorized pumps. We analyze adoption patterns and constraints pertaining to water lifting technologies in Ghana and suggest interventions that would enhance wider dissemination. Currently, these technologies are largely accessible only to better-off farmers. The primary factors inhibiting wider application are poorly developed supply chains, lack of access to finance, high operational and maintenance costs, high output price risks, and lack of institutional support. To realize the potential of water lifting technologies, improvements are required in the entire value chain of lift irrigation systems.
The authors examined cocoa farmers’ participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, impa... more The authors examined cocoa farmers’ participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, impacts of livelihood outcomes (human, physical, financial, and social capitals) on participation, and implications of participation on productivity and per capita expenditure. We used cross-sectional data from 150 cocoa farmers. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, heteroskedastic probit, and doubly robust augmented inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model (AIPW). More than half of cocoa farmers participated in FBS. Financial capital (income and loan accessibility) and social capital (farmer group membership) positively influenced participation in FBS. Nevertheless, human capital (ability to pay medical bills) and physical capital (number of sleeping rooms) negatively influenced participation in FBS. Knowledge and skills cocoa farmers obtained from FBS are new farming methods, creativity in solving farming problems, record keeping, and managerial skills. Participat...
Die Studie schätzt die Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Pflanzenkohle aus Ackerland in Bezug auf di... more Die Studie schätzt die Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von Pflanzenkohle aus Ackerland in Bezug auf die landwirtschaftlichen Einnahmen und die Ernährungssicherheit in Tamale (Ghana) und Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). Die Daten wurden zufällig bei 175 Freilandbauern in Tamale und 220 in Ouagadougou erhoben. Die Simulation von durch Pflanzenkohle verursachten Veränderungen der Bodenqualität in Bezug auf die Landproduktivität ergab eine erwartete Steigerung der Produktion um 15% in Ouagadougou und um 3% in Tamale. Dies entspricht einer durchschnittlichen Steigerung der Gesamtproduktion je Landwirt in Ouagadougou um 518 USD und in Tamale um 57 USD. Auf der Grundlage dieses Ergebnisses ist die ausreichende Voraussetzung für den Einsatz von Pflanzenkohle in Tamale nicht erfüllt, und die Landwirte werden voraussichtlich keine Änderungen vornehmen. Im Fall von Ouagadougou wird die Anreicherung von Ackerland mit Pflanzenkohle große Auswirkungen auf den Anbau der Kulturpflanzen haben.
Gender roles in agriculture can be quite specific, not only in view of particular labor inputs du... more Gender roles in agriculture can be quite specific, not only in view of particular labor inputs during the production cycle but also in terms of who farms and who trades certain crops. Using data collected over ten years in West Africa, this study looked at market-oriented urban vegetable production in West Africa and Ghana in particular. Gender disaggregated data on key issues such as access and control of resources, division of tasks, decision-making process and challenges faced was collected from farmers and traders. With several exceptions, a clear gender distinction emerged across the sub-region: men dominate urban vegetable farming, while women manage vegetable marketing. The general differentiation is attributed to societal norms, but other factors play a role as well. Female farmers, for example, feel constrained by existing irrigation practices that are energy-intensive and conflict with household duties. Male farmers, on the other hand, feel significantly oppressed by their...
17 December 2007 Irrigated vegetable farming is a common practice in and around many cities in lo... more 17 December 2007 Irrigated vegetable farming is a common practice in and around many cities in low-income countries. It is also an important means for attaining urban food security and balanced diets, and it provides a livelihood to many urban dwellers. However, increasing contamination of irrigation water sources makes this practice a major risk factor for public health, especially as most vegetables grown are consumed raw. Urban vegetable farmers in Ghana use different water sources for irrigation, depending on the location of their farming sites. Surface water is most commonly used as it is easily accessible and thus most economical. Farmers collect it from streams, stormwater drains and gutters with greywater. However, these water sources are usually heavily contaminated with untreated wastewater.
ABSTRACT Vegetable production is practiced in urban and peri-urban settings in many countries, wh... more ABSTRACT Vegetable production is practiced in urban and peri-urban settings in many countries, where agricultural lands are decreasing. Farmers need to understand how to manage pests when production is in close proximity to people, especially since they have adopted intensive agricultural practices where more synthetic chemicals are used to control pests. Other issues including climate change, rapid urbanization, limited access to resources – land, training, and technology influence pest management strategies. A mixed method was used to collect data which examined how farmer interactions with other actors and technologies have influenced management of pest infestations and profits. All farmers in Tamale intensively cultivate cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and we noted differences in profitability between farmers with, and without, formal training. There was a positive association between long-term farm experience and good pest management practices. Farmers with >10 years experience growing cabbage were more mindful of pre-harvest intervals in respect to pesticide application compared to those with less-farming experience. Farmer-to-farmer transfer was the most efficient way of disseminating agricultural information and creates an opportunity for sharing information on integrated pest management. There is a need for the creation of formal farmer–farmer training and education by government extension officers, building on informal opportunities provided by farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer on safe handling, storage, and application of pesticides in peri-urban and urban farms.
ABSTRACT West Africa's rice imports currently satisfy 70% of the soaring local demand, wo... more ABSTRACT West Africa's rice imports currently satisfy 70% of the soaring local demand, worsening the food vulnerability of an increasingly urbanized population. Despite considerable rice-growing potential, lack of water control systems, access to improved seeds, agrochemicals and appropriate mechanization have resulted in modest production growth rates, unable to alter the region's dependency on imported rice. Governments aim to boost production with import duties and input subsidies. However, questions remain as to whether these policies enable the rice sector to respond to changing consumers preferences for high grade rice and to contribute to national economic growth. We present the results from a Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) on rice production in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger and under three water management systems: irrigation (public scheme), supplemented rain-fed (rainfall aided by autonomously-sourced water supplies) and purely rain-fed. Our results show that policy interventions in these West African countries (i.e., input subsidies and import taxes) did not significantly enhance the profitability of rice production to farmers due to the effect of market failures (limited capital access and non-competitive market for rice) and the low quality of local milled rice. The PAM results point strongly to the importance of improving rice quality and yields through more efficient water management and post-harvest handling/processing and targeted breeding to match consumers' preferences.
ABSTRACT This paper explores gender aspects of smallholders’ private technology adoption for grou... more ABSTRACT This paper explores gender aspects of smallholders’ private technology adoption for groundwater irrigation in Ghana and Zambia. It focuses on two variables of quantitative farm-household surveys: household headship and gendered plot management. The paper compares adoption rates and types of technologies for female- and male-headed households; examines adoption rates when women have their own plots; and compares women’s decision making on irrigated plots and rainfed plots. The findings suggest that there are largely untapped synergies between gender-equality and irrigation-policy goals. Systematic gender differentiation in surveys is recommended.
The publications in this series record the work and thinking of IWMI researchers, and knowledge t... more The publications in this series record the work and thinking of IWMI researchers, and knowledge that the Institute’s scientific management feels is worthy of documenting. This series will ensure that scientific data and other information gathered or prepared as a part of the research work of the Institute are recorded and referenced. Working Papers could include project reports, case studies, conference or workshop proceedings, discussion papers or reports on progress of research, country-specific research reports, monographs, etc. Working Papers may be copublished, by IWMI and partner organizations. Although most of the reports are published by IWMI staff and their collaborators, we welcome contributions from others. Each report is reviewed internally by IWMI staff. The reports are published and distributed both in hard copy and electronically (www.iwmi.org) and where possible all data and analyses will be available as separate downloadable files. Reports may be copied freely and c...
Although the different roles of men and women in agriculture in different parts of Sub-Saharan Af... more Although the different roles of men and women in agriculture in different parts of Sub-Saharan Africa have been widely acknowledged, there have not been consistent efforts to collect data on these patterns. This paper presents a way of classifying gendered farm ...
Uploads
Papers