Perceptions of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) farmers on production technologies in the Agona West Municipality, Central Region - Ghana

Benjamin Yao Folitse ,Seth Awuku Manteaw

doi:10.4314/gjas.v54i1.5

Abstract

The study sought to assess the dynamics of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) Production Technologies being used in the Agona West Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Farmers were selected from 20 communities with the help of staff from the Department of Agriculture and were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The results revealed that though the grasscutter farmers were varied in their views, the dissemination of grasscutter technologies through video in the study area was deemed to be effective. The results of the Logistic regression model (R-Square values of 0.119 and 0.158) showed that the impact of the dissemination programme on the livelihoods of farmers who had adopted the grasscutter production technologies was best predicted by age, household size and level of education of farmers. The overall mean, 3.99 showed that the livelihoods of the farmers had highly been improved. The paper makes a strong case for a more participatory approach anchored on inclusive problem identification and formulation of research solution that will further ensure that problems that are targeted by research emanate from farmers. This is expected to ensure a more effective extension of research technologies to farmers and other actors along the grasscutter value chain in the area. Keywords: Grasscutter; Production Technologies; Agona West Municipality; Central Region; Ghana

Highlights

Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is an important source of meat and is historically acknowledged to be one of the preferred sources of meat throughout Ghana and the West African Sub-Region (Falconer, 1992)
Though grasscutter farming has been practiced in Ghana for some decades the enterprise remains in the hands of smallholder farmers, who are generally poor and have neither the institutional nor economic power to ensure that their technology needs are met by public sector research (Anandajayasekeram, 1999)
Information about the educational level of grasscutter farmers revealed that the highest proportion of the grasscutter farmers belonged to Junior High School and this was followed by primary education and secondary education in that other

Summary

Introduction

Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) is an important source of meat and is historically acknowledged to be one of the preferred sources of meat throughout Ghana and the West African Sub-Region (Falconer, 1992). The potentials of grasscutter farming as a means of poverty alleviation, as well as its contribution to keeping environmental health, have long been recognized in Ghana (Adu, 2002). Though grasscutter farming has been practiced in Ghana for some decades the enterprise remains in the hands of smallholder farmers, who are generally poor and have neither the institutional nor economic power to ensure that their technology needs are met by public sector research (Anandajayasekeram, 1999). The demand for grasscutter meat in Ghana is high with its accompanying price hikes, making the prospect of grasscutter rearing very bright and encouraging either as a full-time or part-time job.

Methods

Results

Conclusion