Majority of the rural households in Kenya depend mainly on agriculture as a source of food and livelihoods. Agricultural productivity has been declining due to many factors including climate change. Declining agricultural productivity has in turn resulted in increased food insecurity in the country. Consequently, there is a renewed interest in promoting drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum, which are known to perform well in the arid and semi-arid lands of the developing world. Owing to its...
ABSTRACT Cassava farmers in the district have a variety of information needs; however, these information requirements are unmet by the public extension agents who are mandated to deliver agricultural information to the farmers. The main objective of the study was therefore to determine the sources of agricultural information available and its influence on the farm practices and livelihood outcomes of the cassava farmers in the district. The survey research methodology was employed, and used m...
Smallholder commercialization becomes a necessary driver for poverty alleviation and food security in agriculturally driven economies in Sub-Saharan Africa considering rising population growth with increased competition for access to resources. However, commercializing smallholder farming in agriculturally driven economies vary in scales, institutional arrangements and labour regimes as well as socio-economic, environmental and political influence with varying policy initiatives towards incor...
Abstract Maize, the most important cereal in Ghana, is consum ed in alm ost all parts of the country. To ensure food security in Ghana, adequate availability of m aize m ust be ensured. However, w hether or not farm ers should devote their resources to the production of more maize is a question to be addressed. Since food security has more to do with availability than with production or self-sufficiency in the product, it was necessary to investigate w hether it is better for farm ers to gro...
ABSTRACT As the debate on commercialization of Genetically Modified (GM)) crops continue to rage the perspectives of smallholder farmers in Africa regarding this novel technology is increasingly becoming relevant and imperative for both agricultural policy makers and researchers alike. This study assessed underlying constructs characterising smallholder farmers’ perceptions and adoption decision towards the cultivation of GM crops. The study was conducted in the three northern regions of Gh...
ABSTRACT Low productivity is one of the constraints identified by stakeholders as affecting the production of cassava in Ghana. The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) aimed at supporting farmers to increase productivity, providing inputs and extension services to a group of farmers during the first phase of the programme. The study assessed the perceived impact of the WAAPP on the livelihood systems of the beneficiary cassava farmers in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. De...
ABSTRACT The dissemination of the relevant information for agricultural production is the institutional duty of all stakeholders committed to the development of agriculture of which the agricultural extension agent and his organisation play a prominent role. As a formal public (government funded) institution, the agricultural extension service has been observed to be undergoing a period of change in respect to the provision of material and financial resources to carry extension activities. As...
ABSTRACT Dairy commercialization is constrained by several factors including lack of funds. Access to financial services such as credit and savings were identified as important instruments to curb these financial challenges. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been found to play a critical role amongst smallholder farmers in enhancing their access to finance. This study sought to investigate factors influencing credit access and the extent of credit access and how microfinance participatio...
Abstract/Overview Most smallholder farmers who account for more than 70% of the maize produced in Kenya are perpetually food insecure and stuck below poverty level. Sustained maize yield increase largely depends on long term adoption of modern farming technology. However, despite the high yields associated with modern maize technology promotion during and shortly after implementation phase of many projects, sustainability of the technologies still remains a challenge for smallholder maize...
ABSTRACT Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) has been among major challenge to sustainable smallholder cassava production in Kisarawe District. A smallholder cassava farmer’s survey was conducted using personal interviews to determine the implication of CBSD on cassava production and income at smallholder farmer’s level in Kisarawe District. Data were collected using structured questionnaires in a cross-sectional survey involving 107 respondents in two selected wards and villages in Kisar...
ABSTRACT Research and extension must collaborate effectively through research - extension –farmer linkages in order to bring increased agricultural productivity, income and reduction of rural poverty. However, these linkages have been reported to be weak. This study examined factors influencing research – extension – farmer linkages in the Western Agricultural Research Zone of Tanzania. It focused on four districts in the zone namely Kasulu and Kigoma in Kigoma Region and Urambo and Uyu...
ABSTRACT The livelihoods of farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana, is based on crop production which is often been affected by floods. As a result, farmers have continuously been adjusting their livelihood against the impacts of floods. This study examined the effects of flooding on farmers‟ livelihood and the adaptation strategies of farmers to ensure food security. Using cross-sectional and descriptive designs, a concurrent mixed method approach involving both quantitative and qualit...
ABSTRACT This study explored the perspectives of farmers in the Shai Osu-Doku district about social security pensions in the Informal Sector. On the whole Small Holder Farmers are known to be low irregular income earners who despite their entire years of contributing to GDP, employment and the food basket in Ghana lope into abject poverty at old age. Social security pensions become a necessary tool for securing the minimal meaningful livelihood of farmers at old age. The study purposed to asc...
ABSTRACT Climate variability is one of the great challenges facing smallholder farmers in Ghana and more specifically rice farmers. The main objective of this study was to assess the perceptions and adaptation strategies of rice farmers to climate change in Adaklu district. Specifically, the study sought to, i) determines rice farmers’ perceptions of climate change; ii) estimate the adaptive capacities of rice farmers to climate change; iii) identify the adaptation strategies used by rice ...
ABSTRACT Cassava is an important staple crop and its starch is an important source of biomaterial for food and non-food industries. Processing of cassava is very important due to its rapid postharvest deterioration and cyanide content, but it can also add value and provides employment opportunities. There is a correlation between cyanogenic poison and poverty in communities where cassava is a staple food. Therefore development of starches occupies a central position in the quest for cassava c...