Most Northern Ghana farmers earn less than GH₵500 per crop season, reveals new study
Farmers in Northern Ghana are grappling with meager earnings, as a recent study by the Institute of Climate and Environmental Governance (ICEG) has disclosed.
The research sheds light on the economic realities faced by agricultural practitioners in the region, with a significant proportion—33.85%—reporting earnings below GH₵500 per crop season. This situation, characterized by minimal returns on investment, has the unfortunate consequence of intensifying poverty levels and fostering inequality.
The root causes of these subdued returns are multifaceted. A convergence of factors, including depressed prices for agricultural produce, elevated input costs, and the adverse impacts of climate change, have conspired to curtail yields. This has further compounded the vulnerability of the local farming population.
The study delineates four distinct income groups among the farmers, each reflective of their financial standing:
- Majority Group (33.85%): These individuals, constituting the largest cohort, witness earnings falling below GH₵500 each season. This distressing outcome is largely attributed to a confluence of the aforementioned challenges.
- Second Group (24.62%): Farmers in this category experience slightly higher incomes, ranging between GH₵501 and GH₵1,000 per season.
- Third Group (10.77%): The earnings of this segment range from GH₵1,001 to GH₵1,500 per season.
- Highest Earning Group (29.23%): Comprising the most prosperous fraction, this group enjoys earnings surpassing GH₵1,500 each season. Their relative affluence emanates from cultivating high-value crops, embracing mixed farming, and commanding premium prices for their produce.
Notably, crop production dominates the income landscape, captivating the economic pursuits of approximately 97% of rural residents. Staple crops like maize, soybean, and rice, coupled with livestock rearing (sheep, goats, and cattle), form the bedrock of economic activity. However, ancillary undertakings such as sand-winning, charcoal production, and petty trading have emerged as secondary income streams.
Emanating from these activities is the looming specter of environmental degradation. The report underscores the adverse consequences, evidenced notably in districts like Kumbungu and Nanton. The practice of sand-winning has precipitated not only ecological decline but also ancillary social issues like teenage pregnancies and rural-urban migration.
With ecosystems comprising forests, rivers, and arable lands in peril, the report serves as a clarion call to safeguard the livelihoods of local communities and mitigate the exacerbation of climate change. The long-term ramifications of the prevailing economic and environmental challenges resonate as diminished agricultural productivity and escalating food insecurity.
Yahaya Abdulai (PhD), the lead researcher behind the report, champions sustainable land management practices as a remedy. He advocates the establishment of land banks for agricultural use, curated to curtail chemical reliance and facilitate organic production.
Additionally, the report underscores the imperative to diversify livelihoods, especially for those engaged in activities such as sand-winning and charcoal production.
Hamza Suhuyini Sayibu, the Executive Director of ICEG, underscores the criticality of environmental focus as a conduit for poverty alleviation and economic development. He underscores the integral role that climate and environmental sustainability play in uplifting marginalized regions and promoting equitable growth.
