The role of homegardens in ensuring food security in Sahel region: Example from northern regions in Ghana

Harriet Tweneboah, BSc

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Homegardens have become a center for development initiatives by governments, non-governmental organizations as well as development agencies to help in the global challenge of food production and food insecurity especially in developing countries. They embark on this through providing aid and building the local capacity to promote sustainable intensification of homegardens to improve food and cash security of households. This study focused on rural/peri-urban homegardening, its commercialization, contribution of homegardening to total household income, income diversity of the farmers and the food security situation of the farmers. Mixed sampling technique was used to select 120 farmers who were running homegardens. Commercialization was calculated using homegarden commercialization index, which served to categorize the homegardens into more and less market oriented (high and low commercialization levels). Food security was measured via HFIAS Score. We estimated the income diversity of the farmers and the contribution of homegarden to total household income. Probit regression was used to analyze the factors that influence commercialization level of the farmers. Also, the propensity score matching, and endogenous treatment regression model were used to analyze the impact of homegarden commercialization on the food security of the farmers. The results of the study revealed that 52% of the farmers are food secured and the crop species cultivated by majority of the farmers are pepper and maize. The probit regression model showed that age of homegarden head, gender, homegarden size, ownership status of homegarden, and water availability significantly affects homegarden commercialization. The results further showed that homegarden commercialization significantly contributes to food security of farmers in the Upper East region. Other factors that influenced food security of the farmers were gender, years of education, and access to input subsidy. Outcomes from the farmers perception analysis highlighted important role of homegardens in terms of food security and gaining additional income. Major constraints in homegardening were high initial capital of investment, lack of agricultural extension service or support, and destruction of the garden by animals. This study, therefore, argue that governments and development agencies should include and support homegardens in agricultural and rural development policies in Ghana.

Keywords

Functional diversity, Food security, Commercialization, Drivers

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 20. 4. 2022

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Vladimír Verner, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / International Development and Agricultural Economics