MINI PROJECT

TITLE: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN ASHANTI REGION: TRENDS

CHALLENGES AND SUGGESTIONS

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

Agriculture constitutes only about one-fifth of Africa’s GDP and about half of the
total value of its exports, yet more than two-thirds of the population reside in rural
areas and more than 85% of people in these regions depend on agriculture for their
livelihoods (World Bank Development Indicators, 2014). Improving the productivity,
profitability, and sustainability of smallholder farming is therefore considered the
main pathway out of poverty. Agricultural research and development interventions
focused on agricultural intensification and modernizing market channels for
agricultural products can lead to agricultural productivity growth and thereby both
reduce poverty and meet growing demands for food (Ravallion and Datt, 1998;Loayza
and Raddatz, 2010; Ravallion and Datt, 1999, Mellor, 2001; Thirtle et al., 2003).

According to Food and Agriculture Organisations in the United States Productivity

includes the quantities of the commodity sold in the markets (marketed production)
and the quantities consumed or used by producers.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

 The key concern of this study is therefore to understand the extent to which
certain internal and external factors contribute to farmers or producers’ challenges
so that appropriate strategies can be identified to address them and increase
production.

 Challenges of producers aren't most effective outside to the firm; there also are
inner elements that would be explored.

 Address production expenses by producers such as high cost of labour, machinery

expenses, family living expenses and high transportation cost during production
period.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research question for the study are;

1. What will be the expected impact at the commercial agricultural, subsistence

agriculture and the general standard of living?

2. How would we expect the economy to respond to the increases in the

productivity of staple crops in terms of allocation of labour across the region?

3. What are the external sources of challenges that affect poultry production firms in
Ashanti Region Ghana?

4. What are the internal sources of challenges that affect poultry production firms in
 Ashanti Region Ghana?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Major objective:

1. To determining the internal and external challenges facing agricultural

productivity in Ashanti Region Ghana

Specific objective:

1. Determine alternative strategies that producers can use to overcome the

challenges.

2. To identify the external factors which serve as a threat to agricultural production.

(Some of the challenges are environmental and lack of support from the
government)

3. To identify the internal factors that firms face which cause a reduction in their
output. (Some of these factors are inability to cover expenses , manage outbreak
of pest and diseases and other service facilities)

JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY

1. Identifying challenges from internal and external dimensions allow in-depth

analyses that lead to better understanding of the agricultural productivity

2. Stakeholders, including policy makers, input dealers, market actors and producers
themselves will have better knowledge of the scope of the issues to address.

3. Developing strategies which we can be used to address the challenges of poultry

producers will help strengthen firm level weaknesses and provide direction to
opportunities that producers can take advantage of.

Reference

Food and Agriculture Organisations of the United States

World Bank Development Indicators, 2004

Ravallion and Datt, 1998..Loayza and Raddatz, 2010

Ravallion and Datt, 1999. ..Mellor, 2001; Thirtle et al., 2003