Participation of women farmers in agroforestry practices in the Jaman South Municipality, Ghana

Francis Diawuo,Dzigbodi A Doke,Enoch Akwasi Kosoe

doi:10.4314/gjds.v16i2.13

Abstract

Despite the key roles of women in agroforestry systems, their contributions usually go unnoticed in male – dominated societies. This study was conducted in the Jaman South Municipality of Ghana to examine the forms and levels of women’s participation in agroforestry systems. The study used a concurrent mixed method design to collect data from 204 women farmers. It employed Agarwal’s typology of participation to describe the forms of women’s participation. The findings revealed that majority (85.3%) of the women farmers were active in the practice of agroforestry. Scattered trees on farmlands, alley cropping, taungya, and home-gardens were the main forms of agroforestry being practiced by the women farmers. Their participation was high in all farm management activities, except in the application of agro-chemicals and spraying of crops. The forms of women participation in agroforestry were found to conform to all the stages of Agarwal’s typology of participation. Lack of extension programmes and multiple domestic responsibilities were the main constraints to their participation in agroforestry practices. The study recommends training of women to volunteer as extension officers to enhance extension services delivery. Keywords: Alley Cropping, Farmers, Farm Management, Female, Household, Taungya, Participation

Highlights

In time past, when population was low and agricultural land was in abundance, farming practices such as shifting cultivation and bush fallow were able to sustain soil fertility and crop yields (Opoku-Mensah, 2015), by nourishing the soils before cropping
It can help in climate change mitigation, since it has the potential of creating carbon sink that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, or the maintenance of existing carbon in the vegetation (Smith, 2010; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2012)
Agri-silviculture was identified as the main agroforestry system practiced in the study area along with technologies such as home-garden, scattered trees on farm lands, improved fallow, alley cropping and taungya

Summary

Introduction

In time past, when population was low and agricultural land was in abundance, farming practices such as shifting cultivation and bush fallow were able to sustain soil fertility and crop yields (Opoku-Mensah, 2015), by nourishing the soils before cropping. With a population of about 8 million in the 1970s, Ghana’s population has increased massively to more than 24 million in 2010, with a population growth rate of 3% per annum (Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), 2011). The implications of this increase are the strains on resources, especially forest and soil fertility. Agroforestry systems are widely considered as a promising solution to land degradation problems (Poudyal, 2009) It helps address issues of forest cover loss, soil infertility, crop loss, and to enhance food security and improve conditions of farmers (Atangana et al, 2014). It can help in climate change mitigation, since it has the potential of creating carbon sink that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, or the maintenance of existing carbon in the vegetation (Smith, 2010; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC], 2012)

Methods

Results

Conclusion