ABSTRACT The study examines the African Growth and Opportunity Act and African underdevelopment, a critical analysis of major contradictions. The thrust of the research work is to find out if AGOA has spurred the level of investment needed to expand economic activity in the rural agricultural sector. The research work also seeks to examine if AGOA has promoted export diversification with particular reference to the clothing and textile industry and the degree the US trade with SSA countries ...
ABSTRACT The broad objective of the study was to analyse Raphia palm wine (RPW) marketing in South-South Nigeria (SSN). The specific objectives were to: (i) analyse the productivity of resources used in RPW production; (ii) analyse the determinants of technical efficiency of tappers; ( iii) analyse the structure of the RPW market in the area; (iv) describe the marketing channels and distribution of RPW; (v) estimate the level and determinants of profit in RPW tapping and marketing (vi) estim...
ABSTRACT Prices contain information crucial to maximizing the returns to production and marketing investments. At planting time, a farmer's planting decision depends on expected profits, which invariably hinge on the anticipated prices of the crop or mix of crops that would prevail in the market at the time of sale and on the farmer's interpretation of those prices. A trader, in search of profitable arbitrage, reads and translates price signals in deciding on what crops to buy, where to bu...
ABSTRACT Cocoyam is highly perishable and considerable economic losses occur after it is harvested. This is a result of rot, sprouting and other physiological changes. These losses could be reduced through efficient storage, processing and marketing. This study is about the economic study of cocoyam marketing in southeast Nigeria. It specifically ranked market participants preference for cocoyam cultivars and the reasons for such preferences. It showed the main marketing channels and socio-e...
ABSTRACT This study tries to find out why the Ghanaian Poultry Industry is unable to produce enough poultry chicken to meet the local market demand which has led to the large importation of frozen chicken for the period 1988-1999. It determines how responsiveness major poultry inputs such as vaccines, feed, labor and institutional credit are to price change and the economies of scale of layer production in the poultry industry. The study therefore estimates parameters of the input variables f...
ABSTRACT Drought stress and striga parasitism are major constraints to maize (Zea mays L.) production in Northern Ghana. Two experiments were conducted to screen some genotypes of maize for tolerance to drought and Striga hermonthica at Nyankpala in the Guinea Savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana. In Experiment 1, seeds were planted in pots of 0.01 m3 volume arranged in rows on a platform in a screen house at Nyankpala. Genotypes were replicated three times in a completely randomized desig...
ABSTRACT In recent years the contribution of rice production from northern Ghana to national production has declined, thereby raising concerns of productivity. This study is carried out to examine agricultural technology adoption and market participation among smallholder rice farmers in northern Ghana. A sample size of 429 rice farming households from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions was used for the study. Multivariate probit model was used to estimate adoption of improved r...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of value chain interventions on empowerment of shea actors in the Sagnarigu and Kumbungu Districts of Northern region. The study was conducted in the Sagnarigu and Kumbungu Districts of the Northern Region of Ghana. Close and open-ended questionnaires and personal interviews were all used in collecting data from 200 shea actors (shea nut pickers, shea butter processors and shea butter marketers) sampled for this study. The re...
ABSTRACT Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of different compost formulations on yield, nutrient status, and possible heavy metal toxicity in roselle (Hibiscus sabdarrifa L.) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius L.). The vegetable crops were cultivated on an upland field (Latitude 09o 25ꞌꞌ N, Longitude 00o 58 ꞌꞌ W) with an Altitude of 183 m above sea level consisting of the Kpalsawgu soil series, located at Changnaayili in the Northern Region of Gh...
ABSTRACT Over the last decade, improved soybean production technologies have been tested and promoted among farmers using different technology transfer mechanisms. Whether the various agricultural technology transfer mechanisms are effective, and whether they have any effect on adoption of soybean production technologies and soybean yields remain unanswered. This study therefore focused on the effectiveness of agricultural technology transfer mechanisms (ATTMs) on adoption and soybean yield...
ABSTRACT In recent times, rice production can be said to be receiving some attention in Ghana. This notwithstanding, there are still wide variations in rice yield across regions due to differences in production systems and technologies. This study analyses rice productivity heterogeneity among agro-ecological zones and draws policy implications for the adoption of farmer innovation systems (FISs) and improved agricultural technologies (IATs) to enhance yield in Ghana. The study used primary...
ABSTRACT Globally, vegetable production and marketing serve as a source of livelihood for both urban and rural poor and contribute tremendously to food security. This study evaluates the social and economic relationships between vegetable farmers and marketers as well as the production and marketing related problems that limit farmers and marketers from getting potential benefits across seasons in the Tamale Metropolis. Qualitative individual interviews consisting of 10 and 8 farmers and ma...
ABSTRACT Livestock production in Ghana contributes greatly to the total GDP and agricultural GDP respectively. Despite efforts to improve and increase goat production, most farmers, especially the rural households still keep local breeds and are faced with high infant mortality of kids, death of pregnant does, unplanned housing systems, improper feeding and management. These undoubtedly hinder farmers in Kusawgu to improving their stock for food security. It is thus important to study why...
ABSTRACT The pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) is a key pest to stored cowpea. There is limited information on host plant resistance management of this pest on cowpea in Northern Ghana. A laboratory experiment was conducted to test for varietal resistance of some improved varieties against this pest in cowpea. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Seven varieties of cowpea namely; Padi-tuya, Songotra, Apagbaala, Zaayura, Bawutawuta, Marfo-tuya and a lo...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to estimate the extent to which socio-economic characteristics, operations of microcredit institutions and community related factors influencing livelihood sustainability of rural women borrowers of microcredit. The study was conducted in the Tolon/Kumbungu District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Close and open-ended questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations were all used in collecting data from 150 women b...