Production In Ghana Research Articles

Techno-Economic Assessment of Hydrogen Production in Ghana through PV Electrolysis and Biomass Gasification

Abstract The potential to develop a green hydrogen market in Ghana is assessed in this paper. The focus is on biomass gasification and photovoltaic-driven water electrolysis. Using the H2A-Lite model, the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of these technologies are assessed for both current (2023) and future (2040) scenarios. In the current scenario, distributed and centralized Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolysis gave levelized costs of $5.56/kg and $4.35/kg for hydrogen respectively, while centralized biomass gasification yields the cheapest hydrogen cost at $2.68/kg. The high cost of solar PEM electrolysis is linked to expensive electricity and solar PV, but also to compression, storage, and dispensing costs for distributed systems. By year 2040, a general cost reduction is expected due to cheaper renewable energy and increased efficiency. However, these production methods still face competition from more economical conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) processes having a levelized cost of less than $2/kg H2. The study concludes that a hydrogen development strategy and roadmap for Ghana will be crucial to proceed with hydrogen, setting deployment targets, and engaging stakeholders in promoting the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier while creating new economic opportunities and achieving climate objectives.

Cocoa pod husk-derived organic soil amendments differentially affect soil fertility, nutrient leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions in cocoa soils

The depletion of soil nutrients and decline in yields on cocoa farms in west Africa over time force farmers to abandon their farms and look for new fertile land, thereby contributing to deforestation. Cocoa pod husks (CPH) are a major farm waste representing considerable export of nutrients from cocoa soils, particularly P and K. Here, the impacts of soil amendment with raw CPH residues, CPH compost, CPH biochar, or a CPH compost-biochar mixture on soil fertility, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and nutrient losses via leaching were assessed in two laboratory experiments using two major soil types used for cocoa cultivation in Ghana (an acidic Ferralsol and an alkaline Nitisol). In Experiment 1, soil nutrient availability and CO2 and N2O emissions were quantified, whereas simulation and quantification of nutrient leaching were conducted in Experiment 2. Soil pH increased from 4.8 and 8.6 by 1.4- and 1.1-folds on average in amended Ferralsols and Nitisols, respectively. Soil electrical conductivity increased in soils amended with CPH compost and/or biochar. Addition of raw CPH caused remarkable microbial immobilisation of N and reduced N availability and leaching, whereas CPH compost and/or biochar addition increased soil nitrate availability but reduced soil ammonium availability. Leaching of Ca in Nitisols was reduced when CPH biochar was included in the soil amendment. While soil K availability increased in all amended soils, most notably when CPH biochar was included, soil P and Ca availabilities were greatest where CPH compost was included. Soil total GHG emission (CO2 plus N2O) increased in all amended Ferralsols and the Nitisols amended with CPH compost or raw CPH, with the latter remarkably increasing soil CO2 emission by up to 14.8-folds. Compared to sole CPH compost amendment, CPH compost-biochar mixture amendment reduced soil total GHG emission and N and P leaching. These findings show that composted and/or pyrolysed CPH can be judiciously used to enhance soil fertility in cocoa farms, particularly in acidic soils. Pyrolysed CPH is especially beneficial for reducing soil nutrient leaching and GHG emissions and thus for increasing the sustainability of cocoa production in Ghana and west Africa.

Impact of agricultural credit on productivity, cost and returns from cocoa production in Ghana

Impact of agricultural credit on productivity, cost and returns from cocoa production in Ghana

Boosting domestic rice production in Ghana: Analysis of consumer opinions, purchasing behavior and determinants among different income strata

Despite the fact that domestic rice production contributes significantly to the livelihood of millions of people in Ghana, it has been observed that consumers show a strong preference for expensive and imported rice over locally produced rice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception, purchasing behaviour and determinants of local rice consumption across three income households in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. A total of 414 rice consumers were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential techniques, including perception analysis and ordered probit model, were used to analyse the data. The overall perception index of 3.61 denotes that consumers generally have a positive perception of local rice regarding health benefits (index = 4.44), affordability (index = 3.86), and cooking attributes (index = 3.48), despite its poor appearance (index = 2.80). The ordered probit model depicted heterogeneity of covariates as determinants of local rice consumption-based income strata of the household. For instance, various factors, including gender, age, occupation, and attributes of local rice such as affordability, nutrition, cooking attributes, and appearance, have a notable impact on the consumption of local rice among low-income households. In contrast, education, household decision-making, the place of purchasing local rice, and three perception attributes, namely affordability, nutrition, and cooking attributes, were found to be significant determinants of local rice consumption among middle-income households. According to the data, local rice consumption among high-income families was significantly predicted by gender, occupation, household size, and two perception attributes—affordability and nutrition. The study has practical implications for improving the competitiveness of local rice to increase its acceptance and consumption among consumers in the country.

Incentives-adoption-food security: Implications for sustainable cocoa production in Ghana.

This study investigates the adoption of the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme (CRP), aiming to understand the factors influencing farmers' participation and assess the impact on food security. The research gathered quantitative data from 385 cocoa farmers in the Osino Cocoa District, Eastern region, Ghana. Mean, frequency, Tobit and ordered logit regression models were used to analyse the data. Results reveal that incentives like farm maintenance without a charge, extension access, monetary rewards regular farm monitoring and free tree-cutting strongly promote CRP adoption. Gender, age, education, and various incentives significantly influence adoption levels. The study revealed that practices like weedicide-free farming, zero burning, and efficient shade management play a substantial role in improving the food security of farmers. The paper contributes to existing literature by offering a comprehensive analysis of both monetary and non-monetary incentives, adoption patterns, and outcomes, particularly regarding food security in the context of cocoa production. The study suggests a multifaceted approach to enhance CRP efficacy and address the complex dynamics of sustainable agricultural initiatives.

Climate Change Effects, Multi-Actor Interactions, and Effectiveness of Adaptation Activities on Rice Production in Ghana's Northern Region

Climate Change Effects, Multi-Actor Interactions, and Effectiveness of Adaptation Activities on Rice Production in Ghana's Northern Region

Innovation among Small-Scale Firms in Shea Butter Production in Ghana

Innovation among Small-Scale Firms in Shea Butter Production in Ghana

Policy adoption barriers in organic cocoa production: a case study of Ghana and Ivory Coast

ABSTRACT In cash crop producing countries, policy changes towards organic agriculture are critical for sustainable agriculture. This study explores the perceptions and reasons behind the lack of deliberate policies promoting organic cocoa production in Ghana and Ivory Coast, despite its potential benefits. In this qualitative study, 16 policymakers and experts were interviewed, and these data were thematically analysed using planned behaviour theory as the theoretical framework. The study reveals that policymakers perceive organic cocoa production favourably. The slow pace of research, innovation and development (RDI) remains one major barrier to the adoption of organic cocoa policy in Ghana and Ivory Coast. This implicitly leads to organic cocoa production being perceived and promoted as a ‘niche’. The study findings indicate that in emerging economies that solely depend on raw material production output to generate revenue for development, governments may not push through policies that encourage cocoa farmers to convert from conventional to organic cocoa production due to economic considerations. This study recommends the abandonment of the notion of organic cocoa production as a niche to enable Ghana and Ivory Coast to adopt organic cocoa policy.

The role of financial and marketing services on rural shea-producing women

Purpose: This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of financial and marketing services on shea butter production, with an emphasis on the Tolon district of Ghana, to inform evidence-based policies and practices. Research methodology: This study employed a quantitative research design, utilizing a survey approach to collect data from a sample of shea butter producers in the Tolon District of Ghana. In total, 151 Shea nut processors from Tolon, Dimabi 1, and Dimabi 2 were selected using a combination of purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, which were subsequently analyzed using quantitative methods. Furthermore, the study employed linear regression analysis with an endogenous treatment effect model in STATA version 17 to examine the relationship between financial and marketing services, and shea butter production. Results: The empirical evidence derived from the linear regression with the endogenous treatment model indicates a statistically significant and positive relationship between financial and marketing services and shea butter production, indicating that financial and marketing services are significant factors in predicting the productivity of shea butter production. Limitations: The sample size of the study was small, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings. Contribution: This study provides novel insights into the dynamics of shea butter production in Ghana’s Tolon District by highlighting the quantitative effect of financial and marketing services on shea butter production, and the importance of improving access to these services. This study also provides evidence-based recommendations for collaborative synergies between government and non-governmental organizations to establish microfinance programs and marketing service centers to facilitate easier access to these essential services for shea butter producers.

Using PCR and RCA Techniques to Investigate the Variants of Cassava Mosaic Virus and Their Distribution in Ghana

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) caused by cassava begomoviruses is the major constraint to cassava production in Ghana. The disease is known to cause reduction in root yield. To ascertain the distribution of viruses causing CMD, 95 diseased cassava samples were collected in two agroecological zones of Ghana-Deciduous Forest zone and the Transitional zone. On a scale of 1-5, CMD severity was scored. Mean CMD severity score was 2.9, however there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the zones. Averagely, CMD score of > 2.8 in 71% of farms visited was recorded. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rolling circle amplification (RCA) were employed for virus identification. PCR revealed that African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) and mixed infections were prevalent in both zones. EACMV-Cameroon strain was also identified to be common within these zones. The transitional zone had the highest percentage of CMD infection. Unamplified samples from PCR were amplified using rolling circle amplification (RCA) technique. Amplification and characterisation of complete genome sequences of two isolates were carried out. The complete genome of 2780 nucleotides from samples showed a high similarity to African cassava mosaic virus-Ghana (ACMV-GH). Sequences clustered with ACMV-Ivory Coast, ACMV Nigeria-Ogo, ACMV-BF, ACMV-UG having > 96% identity. This shows the close relation that exists amongst the ACMV strains in Africa. These findings highlight the need for a continuous survey of CMD to help manage the disease in the country.

Isolation and evaluation of local microalgal isolates as feed for larval rearing of Crassostrea tulipa towards optimisation of mangrove oyster seed production in Ghana

AbstractThis study explored the potential of three local microalgal isolates as feed for oyster larvae in laboratory‐rearing experiments, towards the optimisation of seed production of Crassostrea tulipa to support its large‐scale farming along the West African coast. Three species of local microalgae—Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp. and Pseudanabaena sp.—were isolated from waters off the coast of Ghana, West Africa, following a serial dilution technique. The growth performance of the isolates was assessed in the laboratory through daily estimation of cell density until the stationary phase was observed. Characterisation of the microalgal isolates was carried out by estimation of their biovolume, carbon content and energy content. Biovolumes of the microalgae were calculated from the estimated equivalent spherical diameters using proposed geometric shapes and formulae. Carbon weight and carbon energy content were subsequently calculated using derived conversions. The three microalgal isolates showed potential for large‐scale cultivation in the laboratory with marked differences in daily increases in cell densities. Nannochloropsis sp. and Rhodomonas sp. recorded the highest and the lowest peak densities of 2.4 × 105 and 1.5 × 105 cell mL−1, respectively, from an initial inoculating cell density of 1.05 × 105 cell mL−1. The estimated mean biovolumes of Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp. and Pseudanabaena sp. were 238.9, 8.182 and 42.42 µm3, respectively, and the corresponding derived carbon energy contents were 1.7 × 10−6, 7.13 × 10−8 and 1.05 × 10−7 J, respectively. Results from a laboratory rearing experiment indicated that the individual microalgal isolates supported the growth and survival of oyster larvae at different scales, but a mixed diet of the three promoted superior growth and survival of C. tulipa larvae. The three local microalgal isolates‐ Rhodomonas sp., Nannochloropsis sp., and Pseudanabaena sp.‐ were well adapted to laboratory culture conditions, and the observed differences in growth and survival of the oyster larvae fed on these algal diets could be due to the differences in diet properties and biochemical compositions of the different species. A combination of the three algal diets, however, provided complementaery nutrients for the optimal growth and survival of C. tulipa larvae. The outcome of this study shows that local microalgal isolates have the potential to support hatchery rearing of C. tulipa, which is essential for the development of commercial mangrove oyster aquaculture in West Africa.

Modernizing cocoa production in Ghana: successes, constraints, and future possibilities of innovation diffusion in the cocoa sector

ABSTRACT This paper employs the political settlement framework, diffusion theory, and data generated through a mixed methods design to examine the adoption of innovations and technology in Ghana’s cocoa sector, with particular reference to the Juaboso district, a major cocoa producing area. The findings indicate that while most farmers have adopted improved cocoa planting methods in rows, the use of hybrid varieties and application of chemicals because of perceived benefits of these innovations and state support in adopting them, the use of fertilizers on cocoa farms is very low due to political economy issues, economic challenges, and neopatrimonialism. Historically, corrupt state politicians have used the fertilizer subsidy programme to strengthen patronage networks and reward crony capitalists. We conclude that the socio-political dimension of innovation-diffusion overrides the technical-economic reasons often cited in the literature for the failure of cocoa farmers to adopt these technologies. Addressing neopatrimonialism and recent politicization of input distribution is needed to enhance adoption of innovation and improved technology in Ghana’s cocoa sector.

The role of developing countries in the global fashion industry sustainability discourse: Ghana in perspective - A narrative review

Fashion Industry practices globally are considered to have major negative impacts on both the environment and society. Production and consumption have increasingly moved towards the industry’s model of take-create-dispose. As this phenomenon is observed to take center stage in more industrialized and advanced nations, developing countries including Ghana, also contribute directly or indirectly to the negative impacts. Fashion production in Ghana is predominantly centered on small to medium-scale enterprises, and their mode of operation allows for customized small runs tailored to specific end-customers, thereby providing an avenue for exploring sustainable strategies that may have a positive impact on the environment and society. This paper takes a narrative review approach to how the fashion industry in Ghana impacts sustainability and the opportunities to make positive impacts on sustainability at a global level. It demonstrates how Ghana, as a developing country, imports raw materials for both textile and apparel production from counterparts in developing and developed countries and contributes to negative environmental impacts associated with sourcing countries. However, with the emergence of sustainable strategies, local contemporary fashion designers can embrace culturally friendly sustainable models to enhance their practice toward industry sustainability.

Managing Aflatoxin Contamination Threats in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Production in Ghana: The role of adoption of management strategies

Efforts to raise knowledge and awareness of smallholder groundnut farmers about aflatoxin contaminations and its management continue to pose a threat to consumers health along the food value chain. This paper examines smallholder farmers’ awareness and adoption of aflatoxin management strategies using a multistage sampling technique to sample 318 groundnut farmers in Ghana. A 5-point Likert scale and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was used to examine the perception about aflatoxin contaminations and constraints faced in managing aflatoxins in groundnut production, respectively. A multivariate probit model was further employed to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of aflatoxin management strategies. The results revealed that 92% of the farmers were aware of aflatoxin contaminations, however, only 20.7% of the farmers had received aflatoxins training. The results also showed that farmers are in agreement about aflatoxin contaminations in groundnut production. The most commonly adopted aflatoxin management strategies by farmers were timely harvesting, crop rotation, sorting, and storage in aerated and covered environment. Furthermore, the empirical results showed that education, credit access, membership in farmer based organizations, distance to farm, off-farm activity and location had a significant influence on farmers’ adoption of all aflatoxin management strategies. Pest and disease incidence, and rainfall variability were identified as major constraints faced by smallholder groundnut farmers in Ghana. There is the need for periodic public sensitizations and technical capacity building of smallholder farmers to adopt aflatoxins management strategies which could improve groundnut productivity and ensure food security in Ghana.

Impact of fertiliser application on cocoa yields in Ghana: An analysis of cocoa bean yields in farmers’ plantations

Nutrient mining from cocoa plantations in Ghana occurs continuously as pods and beans are taken from cocoa farms. The effects of fertiliser application on yield of cocoa was investigated over a ten-year period by monitoring yields in the farms of 256 farmers in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Eastern and Western Regions of Ghana. Selection of farms was limited to farmers that planted recommended mixed-hybrid variety, and within the age class of 10 to 15 years. Data were taken from two separate field monitoring. In the first group of farms monitored over a ten-year period (2009/10 to 2018/19), only granular type of fertilisers was applied on the farms of 99 farmers. In the second set of data taken over a six-year period (2013/14 to 2018/19), 157 farmers who applied both granular and foliar type of fertilisers were monitored. At each farm, a 0.2 ha plot was demarcated for each fertiliser type. A plot receiving no fertiliser application was included as a control for comparison. The experimental design was a randomised complete block with the locations (Farmers’ plantations) in each region serving as blocks. That is, at each location, a Farmer’s plantation is divided into the various treatments applied. Data on total number of pods was taken on each farmer’s plantation for two or three years after fertiliser application. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of variance. The results showed significant impact of fertiliser application on cocoa production in Ghana. In the farms that received only granular type of fertilisers, the average yield increases across the five regions was 73%, whereas in the second that had both granular and foliar types, the yield increase was 98%. There was no interaction between fertiliser type and Region for bean yields, except when the data on fertilised plots were disaggregated into foliar-applied and granular-applied farms. The result implies that both granular and foliar type of fertilisers recommended by Ghana cocoa board will provide similar levels of yield increment in the majority of cocoa producing Regions in Ghana

Technical Efficiency Evaluation of Maize Production in Ghana: An Application of Three-Stage Data Envelopment Analysis

Purpose: In Ghana, maize constitutes the primary source of revenue and food for small-scale farmers, and to attain maize self-sufficiency, appropriate production techniques must be employed, coupled with the scaling up of production efficiency to supplement our food output. The objectives of the study are to estimate the technical efficiency and analyze the trend in total factor productivity of maize production. Method: This study focuses on forty-eight (48) cities in six (6) selected regions of Ghana: Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Central, Eastern, and Volta. Secondary data on maize production was obtained from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture from the 2010/11 to 2020/21 cropping seasons. Environmental variables (amount of rainfall and temperature) were sourced from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) from 2010/11 to 2020/21. Results and Conclusion: The results displayed a fairly high level of TE, and environmental factors significantly influence production efficiency. The study revealed that the TE of maize cultivation was 0.752 and 0.853 for the first and third stages, respectively. From the findings, the efficiency scores attained after the adjustments to the input in the third stage of the DEA model were greater than those in the first stage. Also, the results indicated the eastern region had the highest TE scores, showed an increment in productivity, and serves as the finest region for maize cultivation. Overall, the technical performance of maize cultivation had shown an upward trend in productivity, and the eastern region recorded the highest efficiency performance and technological progress. Implications of the Research: The research highlights the significance of the maize crop to the Ghanaian economy and how environmental factors impact farmers' production efficiency. It also emphasizes the benefits of resource use efficiency and its implied effects on the total factor productivity of maize cultivation. Policy suggestions include sustainable production practices primarily for farmers living in susceptible areas to enhance productivity and improve their food security status. Originality/Value: The gap discovered in the examined literature was that there exists a substantial deficiency in the usage of the three-stage DEA Malmquist model for analyzing technical efficiency and limited studies on the estimation of the total factor productivity (TFP) changes, specifically focusing on maize farming. This paper adds to the body of the existing literature by utilizing a three-stage DEA model to evaluate the TE of maize production. This is entirely limited both in theory for annual crops and methodologically in the Ghanaian literature on efficiency studies.

ANALYSING THE EMERGING PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY: PERCEPTION OF FASHION DESIGNERS WITHIN ADENTA MUNICIPALITY, GHANA.

This paper aims to investigate the emerging production technologies in clothing production in Ghana and the awareness and usage by fashion designers. The research was based on quantitative and studio-based approaches, which employed questionnaires and observation for data collection. The population comprises 120 fashion designers who have their workshops within Adenta. The results indicated that the emerging production technologies in the clothing industry were ranked, and Computer-aided design (CAD) represented first (1st), Automated inspection (AIN) ranked second (2nd) and Automated material handling devices (AMHD) ranked third (3rd). The study showed that 82.1 % of the respondents agreed that fashion designers' design activities involve the effective use of computers for drawing and designing products. Also, 86% agreed that fashion designers used automated inspection machines to perform inspections. However, 83.3% of the respondents disagreed that fashion designers use a reprogrammable, multifunctional manipulator designed for the automation of assembly lines for apparel making. The study concluded that to demonstrate creative and professional skills, fashion designers should be able to generate original designs from unique concepts and effectively manipulate most of the emerging production technologies in realising their concepts.

Towards sustainable food crop production: Drivers of shift from crop production to mining activities in Ghana's Arable Lands

This study contributes to the observed reduction of arable lands discourse by examining the shift in land use patterns as well as factors influencing farmers' shift from crop production to mining activities. To achieve this, we employed a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and Cragg's Double Hurdle Econometric Model as analytical tools. Our approach integrates an econometric model of land use with GIS simulations that predict the spatial pattern of land-use change. The results revealed that crop production lands have been converted into artisanal small-scale mining (galamsey) sites, a development which has implications on food security, life on land and effective utilizations of land and water resources. The results also showed that membership in Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), access to credit, and low yield of food crops influenced farmers to shift from crop production to participate in mining activities. In addition, the extent of participation in mining was influenced by family size, membership in FBOs, and low crop yield. While mining operations offer substantial economic benefits, it is crucial to strike a balance between land use for mining activities and food crop production. This is because it has the potential to worsen recent hikes in food prices and subsequently leading to rising inflation rates in Ghana. Our findings have implications on achieving multiple SDGs, viz. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) as minimizing illegal mining helps increase food production as well as protect water bodies and land. We therefore suggest that government should take steps to make credit accessible to farmers by collaborating with financial institutions and also collaborate with Crops Research Institutes to develop high-yielding crop varieties. Future research could focus on exploring the impact of participating in mining activities on the profitability of food crop production in Ghana.

Circular water management solutions for optimising irrigated agricultural production in Ghana: the relevance of nanotechnology

Circular water management solutions for optimising irrigated agricultural production in Ghana: the relevance of nanotechnology

Book Review: Petroleum Resource Management in Africa, Lessons from Ten Years of Oil and Gas Production in Ghana

Book Review: Petroleum Resource Management in Africa, Lessons from Ten Years of Oil and Gas Production in Ghana