THE EFFECT OF PINEAPPLE FARMING ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF PINEAPPLE FARMERS IN THE GA DISTRICTS

ABSTRACT

The decision by the government of Ghana to diversify the agricultural sector through the Medium Term Agricultural Development Programme (MTADP), led to the establishment of the World Bank Funded Agricultural Diversification Project in 1991. The project sought to identify some agricultural products for development and promotion of which pineapple was the most prominent because of its high yield and export value. Government and other organizations have since encouraged pineapple cultivation among farmers. The aim of this research therefore is to ascertain whether pineapple farming has benefited farmers over the years. To achieve this objective, livelihood indicators were used to assess the impact of pineapple farming on farmers. There is ample evidence that pineapple farming has been beneficial to farmers. The net revenue generated from farming pineapple far more outweighs that of farming the other crops. This has helped them improve their welfare and reduce poverty. It is therefore not surprising that more than half the percentage of respondents had increased their farm size by three to eight acres over the five year period. Though pineapple farming has benefited farmers, more needs to be done in terms of access to loans, grants, technical training and improvements in logistics to enhance output. An organised market should be established to over see the trade in pineapple if farmers are to increase their revenue.