Examining the risk in mango production: a case study in South Tongu District
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Date
2021-07-06
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Abstract
The mango industry in Ghana is identified as one with high potentials of earning foreign exchange for the domestic economy whiles improving welfare of farmers locally. Amidst frantic efforts being made to stimulate domestic mango production, it is imperative that all factors that potentially affect the production process from the onset of cultivation are examined. To this effect, this study examines the risk in mango production in the case of mango production in the South Tongu district of Ghana. The study specifically examines the various sources of risks in mango production, the management strategies adopted by farmers in mitigating risk exposures, and the effects of risks associated with mango production on mango production levels in the South Tongu district. The study purposively targeted farmers who commercially cultivate mangoes as their source of livelihood. 70 farmers were randomly sampled for information for the study’s analysis. Descriptive statistics and the Spearman correlation coefficient method were employed in the study’s analysis.
The study finds pest is the most important source of risk for mango farmers in the district, followed closely by changes in input prices. Whiles flood, drought, personal risks and equipment challenges are not important sources of risk in mango production in the district. The study again finds that a majority of farmers have adopted management strategies. The farmers however, in their responses are not too certain on the effectiveness of the strategies they have been practicing. The study further finds that, weather and biological conditions, price risk, financial risks and asset risks to a larger extent are significantly associated with the average level of mango yield or productivity. Farmers need more education and training to enrich their knowledge on the various forms of risk exposures and best methods to adopt to mitigate such risk exposures when they occur. This will not only protect farmers’ income and welfare, but also secure expected mango yield and improve overall production in the South Tongu district and Ghana at large
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award Degree of Master of Science in Project Management.
Keywords
Mango Production, Risk Management, Yield, Spearman Correlation Coefficient