SMALL – SCALE INDUSTRIES AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN RURAL GHANA: A STUDY OF THE BASKET WEAVING INDUSTRY IN THE BOLGATANGA MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the contribution of the basket weaving industry to

poverty reduction in the Bolgatanga Municipality. The study covered 206

weavers, five leather workers, five straw sellers, two dye sellers, two exporting

companies and three institutions that support the basket weaving industry. The

study used accidental and purposive sampling methods and employed the

exploratory research design. The main research instruments used for the data

collection were interview schedule, interview guide and focus group discussion

guide, while the SPSS was used for the data analysis. The study revealed income

as the main motivation for weaving. The long standing problem of inadequate

credit due to high interest rates and stringent collateral requirements involved in

accessing bank loans as well as the low performance of promotional institutions

affected the development of the industry in the municipality. The study

recommended; the coming together of all stakeholders in the industry to

determine a common price for the baskets so as to enhance the income of the

weavers; the formation of weavers’ groups to access micro credits to purchase

raw materials to ensure continuous production of the baskets as well as the

extension of the services of the promotional institutions to cover the weavers in

their strides to reduce poverty.

Read Download