THE CONTRIBUTION OF FARMERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY OF GHANA.A STUDY OF FARMERS AT DODOWA.
BISMARCK NII OGBAMEY TETTEH
INDEX NUMBER: DCSA 2010105
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND
Agriculture constitutes 40 percent of Ghana’s annual income. Considering the fact that the under-developed countries employ 80 percent or more of their population in agriculture, the developed countries employ less than 20 percent to as low as 5 percent of their population in Agriculture. Agriculture is the key instrument driving their economy. Ghana, yet still has a big question about whether she is able to feed herself and improve her economy through the Agriculture sector. In its starkest terms, economic development is nothing more than the reverse of the proportions above.
Agriculture is the main stay of the Ghanaian economy and source of livelihood for a majority of our country’s populace. It is the source of raw materials for industries; the main foreign exchange earner and also the main source of food security for the country. Agriculture is the main employer of rural households and the backbone of the agricultural economy.
Mostly, Agriculture is done by small scale men and women farmers who produce for incomes, food and employment. Agriculture, in addition to being a key thematic area for Action Aid International Ghana’s Country Programme is also the Government’s Priority in Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRSII). It is the means to eradicate poverty in the country and to meet the first Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger and eradicating poverty. This signifies the importance of the sector to stakeholders.
The late Mr. Dan Augustus Lartey, presidential candidate, leader, founder and chairman of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) had a very important ideology of “Domestication” which stood to be “growing what we eat and eating what we grow”. By domestication, Dan Lartey means favouring what is locally produced and strengthening the domestic economy, from agriculture to manufacturing -- for domestic and export markets.
Grow what you eat and eating it, says Lartey calling for self-sufficiency in Ghana’s primary economic sector, food, clothing and shelter. He pledged to radically correct an over reliance on imports if he is elected into office. Most of the things eaten and drunk in Ghana are imported from developed countries.(http://allafrica.com/stories/200012070313.html)
According to the encyclopedia of Nations, agriculture accounted for more than 40 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999 and employed three-fifths of the workforce. However, despite its importance, sectoral growth has lagged behind other sectors of the economy and has been unpredictable, as most farming is reliant upon rainwater.
The Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama predicted dire consequences on the economy, particularly agriculture and health, if there was an increase in the factors that contributed to climate change. He expressed the fear that if the “current trajectory remains unchanged, cocoa trees, as well as maize crops, cannot thrive in Ghana in the near future”. (http:www.Africanews.com)
The country continues to be a net importer of food and agriculture products amidst the significant improvements made in the agriculture sector as in the strategies for agriculture development in the Ghana Vision 2020.
The research is going to consider the Agriculture sector, specifically mango farmers at Dodowa in the Damgbe West.
1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study will seek to address the state of Agriculture production in Ghana. It will also examine if Ghana is able to feed her citizen.
General Objective
* To examine the contribution of Farmers to the economy of Ghana
Specific Objectives
* To determine what Farmers are doing to help boost Ghana’s economy at Dodowa.
* To examine if the farmers at Dodowa are prepared to increase agricultural produce.
1.2 RESEARCH QUESTION
* What is the contribution of farmers towards the development of the economy of Ghana through the Agriculture sector?
* What policies can help raise productivity and increase employment opportunities of farmers at Dodowa?
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The economy of developing countries depends on three main sectors; Agriculture,industry and services.Agriculture is the bedrock of the economy as it produces the rawmaterial to feed the industries for processing into final products.
Ghana is an Agrarian country, majority of Ghanaians are employed in the sector but the operations are rudimentary and lacks modern methods of Agriculture such as the use of advance technology to improve agricultural productivity.
Dodowa is a urban town in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.Majority of the people are farmers who cultivate mainly mangoes, mazie and cassava.
There is the need to examine their contribution to the economy of Ghana by looking at their productivity, land and challenges they face.
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The study will seek to address what happens to the mangoes after they are harvested. Mangoes are classified under non-traditional export products.
The research will also help the government in the formulation of policies to resolve the financial problems that the farmers at Dodowa go through from the planting to harvesting and selling. It will also look at the number of the mangoes that are exported to other countries, consumed in Ghana and the numbers that rots and go to waste.
1.4 SCOPE OF STUDY
The research which has its study on Farmers at Dodowa therefore is going to look at Farmers who grow specifically mangoes at Dodowa in the Damgbe West constituency and what they do to the mangoes after harvesting them. The research will consider the Ministry of Food and Agriculture both Dodowa division and the main office and the part they play in mango production at Damgbe West constituency Dodowa.
1.5 ORGANISATION OF STUDY
Chapter one consist of the background, objectives of the study, the research question, statement of the problem, significance of the study and the scope of the study.
Chapter two will consist of Literature which will contain the review of theories, related studies, statements of hypothesis, rationale for research question and operational definition
Chapter three will based on the Methology.
Chapter four will consist of
Chapter five will have discussion, Limitation and recommendation and conclusion
Chapter six wil also have References and Appendices.
1.5 ORGANISATION OF STUDY
The study is made up of five chapters which are as follows;
The first chapter is the introduction to what the study entails,which focuses on the background of study, the statement of problem, objective of study, research questions, relevance of study, and the scope of study.
The second chapter comprises of the literature review, which has the review of articles from other books and the internet which are related to the study. It also reviews and related the study to the theories that frames it, the testing the rationale for hypothesis and the operational definition of some keywords in the context of the study.
Chapter 3 involves the Methodology used in the research work. It covers sample and population, instruments used in the research design, sampling, techniques and the procedure of data collection and adequate demonstration of proper control of confounding variables.
Chapter 4 focuses on the discussion, findings and analysis of the research approach. It also presents the representation of reports .
Chapter 5 has to do with the summary, limitation, conclusion and recommendations of the study.
Chapter six wil also have References and Appendices.
June 17, 2010
