International Journal of Agricultural Extension PERCEIVED IMPACTS OF ROYAL FM AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMMES ON LIVELIHOODS OF FARMERS IN GHANA A B S T R A C T (original) (raw)
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Many researchers have postulated that the introduction of agricultural poverty intervention programmes such as grasscutter farming is a sure way of improving the livelihood base of small-holder farmers. Currently, agricultural programmes for poverty intervention by NGOs are mostly based on the livestock and poultry industries. However, small-holder farmers do not benefit well from such programmes due to their low income levels. This study assessed the effects of grasscutter farming on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Asutifi District, Brong-Ahafo Region, Ghana. The main objective of the study was to find out whether the grasscutter farming project of The Brong-Ahafo Regional Development Programme (BARDP) of ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has been beneficial to the farmers and communities in the Asutifi District of Ghana. The study employed interviews, mostly Focus Group Discussions (FDGs), to collect data from two groups: the beneficiary farmers and supervisors (an AEA and the Project Officer of Food Rights, BARDP-AAG) of the project. The study confirmed that the BARDP-AAG Grasscutter Project has so far been able to serve as an essential alternative source of income and animal protein for farming households in the District. It has been able to improve upon the livelihood base of the small-holder farmers in Asutifi District and has therefore been beneficial to both the farmers and their communities.
The Nigerian Journal of Agricultural Extention, 2018
Abstract This study investigates the implications of radio programme in improving farmers agricultural practice: A case study of the Agric Panorama aired on Samaru FM 101.1. The study assesses the role Agric Panorama plays in improving Samaru farmers agricultural practice. Survey research design and simple random sampling were adopted. One hundred and thirty-one (131) questionnaires were administered to farmers and 126 were retrieved and analysed. Findings revealed that farmers access the programme Agric Panorama through ABU FM Radio and has aided their farming activities about 86.9% of the respondents believes that the programme contributes to the improvement of their farming (M=4.3, SD=.86); through provision of useful information on agricultural management, improved fertilization, disease control, seedling and up to date information on best practices. Regression analysis revealed (R2=0.38, P=0.032) that exposure to Agric Panorama programme is significantly and positively correlated with improvement of agricultural practices. The study identifies poor power supply, insufficient time, and language barrier as major challenges related to the programme. It is recommended that a Hausa version of the programme should be introduced as majority of the Samaru residents are Hausas. Keywords: Development, Radio programme, Farmers and Agricultural Improvement
Measuring the Impact on Farmers of Agricultural Radio and Television Programs in Southwest Nigeria
2002
In Nigeria, as in many other countries, limited numbers of extension agents (one to 4,000 farmers) make it impossible to reach all farmers by interpersonal means. For this reason, radio and, more recently, television have been used by agricultural organizations to disseminate relevant agricultural information to larger numbers of farm families at minimal cost and to areas hitherto not accessible to extension agents on a regular basis. While prior studies have confirmed that these radio programs have large audiences, there has been less attention to the perceptions farmers hold about the specific benefits these programs proVide. The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of two long-running Nigerian agricultural programs, one for radio and the second for TV, as perceived by 198 randomly selected farmers in Oyo State of southwest Nigeria. Results indicate a very positive assessment of both specific program components and the value of the two programs for improving agricu...
MoFA offices (25.1 percent). Almost all the beneficiary farmers who used the fertilizers intend to use them again because they are affordable and increase yields. E-agriculture-Access to information through ICT platforms was generally low (13.3 percent) among beneficiary farmers. Radio or television and phone calls or text messages were the major sources of information for farmers. The government was the leading supplier of information. Most beneficiary farmers reported having seen an improvement in government-provided information services. Only 13.4 percent of beneficiary farmers encountered challenges during the registration process, highlighting the time-consuming nature of the process and distance to the MoFA office. Agricultural extension services-The proportion of beneficiary farmers who received extension services was 44.5 percent. A significant proportion of beneficiary farmers in the Middle zone received extension services (65.1 percent), while only 28 percent of farmers in the Northern zone did so. Only a quarter of the farmers have extension agents in their communities. Many beneficiary farmers, especially in the Middle zone, received training on improved farming practices. Generally, the farmers were satisfied with the various extension services they received. Marketing of produce-Many of the farmers (81.6 percent) sold all or a fraction of their harvested crop in the 2019 major planting season. The proportion of beneficiary farmers (83.3 percent) who sold all or part of their harvested crops was higher than among non-beneficiary farmers (77.2 percent). The majority of farmers sold their harvested crops to market traders. Less than one percent of the beneficiary farmers sold their produce to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) or had some arrangements with MoFA for the purchase of their harvested crops. Crop yields and post-harvest losses-For all the crops cultivated, the average beneficiary farmer obtained higher yields, although marginal, than the average non-beneficiary farmer. Overall, 46.9 percent of households' store all or part of their produce after harvest. Compared to nonbeneficiaries, beneficiaries recorded higher post-harvest losses for maize, soya bean, groundnut, and cassava, while the reverse was true for the remaining crops examined.
Communicating with Radio: Examining the Experiences and Perceptions of Farmers in Ghana
Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 2022
Farm radio programs have become important conduits of change among farmers. The content, delivery, programming, personnel and benefits need to be evaluated in order to enhance its function in extension delivery. This study sought to examine the experiences and perceptions of farmers on their communications with farm radio programs. The research was conducted in the Bosome Freho District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The sample size was made of 400 farmers who were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages were used. Results show that: farmers agreed that three of the thematic areas; benefits, delivery and programming meet their expectations and needs. However, they were neutral towards two; content and personnel. Based on the findings, the study makes the following recommendations; that farmers should continue to listen and rely on farm radio programs for the benefits they derive from it, that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should put together a structured curriculum that will enrich the content for farm radio broadcasting, and that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should thoroughly train its personnel that handle farm radio broadcasting so that they are always apt for the work.
Effect of a Food Crop Development Project on Livelihood of Small-Scale Maize Farmers, Ghana
The Food Crop Development Project (FCDP) was introduced with the aim of improving farm incomes, household food security, nutrition and reducing poverty among small-scale farmers. This study sought to find answers to the questions of whether the project improved farmers' access to credit, improved maize output or whether small-scale maize farmers adopted the improved maize production practices and how it impacted on maize production. Descriptive survey was conducted and using multi-stage random sampling procedure a final sample of 130 farmers was selected. The results indicated that participation in FCDP had a positive and significant but moderate relationship with maize output. More participants reported having easy access to credit than non-participants with chi-square value of 17.29 being highly significant indicating the possible relationship between ease of access to credit and participation in FCDP. The OLS stepwise regression analysis showed that participation, farm size and ease of access to credit were the main predictors of maize output while participation, income and household size were also the main predictors of food security. Thus, FCDP helped to improve the livelihoods of maize farmers in the study area. The policy implication of these findings is that subsidized agricultural input projects like the FCDP, have the potential to improve food security and farm incomes of peasant households.
2020
It is always important to evaluate the performance of agricultural interventions as early as possible in order that subsequent implementation could benefit from lessons learned from successes and failures. This paper examined the effect of participation in Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs programme on maize yields in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District of Northern Region. Data from a cross-section of maize farmers was analyzed using the Heckman treatment effects model. The results showed that participants of the PFJ programme obtained higher yields than the nonparticipants by about 4 bags per acre. However, some farmers still face the challenges of limited access to fertilizer, late delivery of inputs, and low access to extension services which tend to limit the potential outcomes to be realized from the intervention. Therefore, the programme implementers, particularly the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) should ensure expanded access and timely delivery of inputs, to help enhan...
2013
The Government of Ghana introduced afforestation project with the aim of re-stocking depleted forest resources and to create employment in order to reduce rural poverty. This study was therefore conducted to assess the socio-economic effects of the afforestation project on the beneficiary farmers in Dormaa Ahenkro District of the Brong-Ahafo Region. Questionnaires were randomly administered to 80 farmers in the Diabaa and Kofisua communities in the Dormaa Ahenkro district who had adopted the afforestation project. Majority of the farmers (89.8%) were illiterates and aged between 20 and over 50 years, comprising 45 males and 35 females. Credit in the form of cash only, inputs only or both cash and inputs were distributed to the beneficiary farmers. Over 85.3% of the farmers indicated satisfaction for the support received. The project has improved both the economic and social life of over 80% of the beneficiary farmers. It has provided employment (98.7%), education opportunities (87.0...
Agricultural Finance Review, 2016
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) Block Farm Credit Programme (BFCP) participation on crop output in four districts in the Northern region of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 240 beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers of BFCP. The treatment effect model that accounts for selectivity bias was employed to examine the socioeconomic determinants of farmers’ decision to participate in the BFCP and the effect of BFCP participation on crop output. Findings Even though the BFCP participation increases output, inadequacy and late delivery of BFCP inputs, low publicity about the programme and difficulty in accessing the inputs from the districts agricultural officers are factors that prevent the full realization of the benefits of the programme. Improving extension services to create more awareness and a re-introduction of the BFCP to make inputs available and af...