A planning strategy for food crop marketing in Techiman District, Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana

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1989-05-08
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Abstract
Like many other developing countries, agriculture assumes a dominant status in the economy of Ghana today. Its development is therefore crucial to bring about growth and expansion in other sectors of the economy. In order to have a deeper understanding of the production and marketing systems, a household survey, market survey and traffic counts were conducted in five settlements. The study revealed two major stumbling blocks in the agricultural economy. First, farmers do not have effective access to productive inputs and services. Input delivery, extension and credit services hardly ever venture into the hinterland. Secondly, farmer’s initiative to produce more is being frustrated by lack of access to markets. This is further explained by poor road system, high transport costs, inadequate motor fleet, poor pricing system, lack of up to date market information and so on. The effect of lack of effective access to productive inputs and markets has manifested itself in declining productivity, falling farm income and consequently, deteriorating standard of living. A planning strategy is proposed to correct the deficiency in the system of production and marketing. The strategy recognises a high degree of community participation, accelerated use of local resources and sectoral and spatial co-ordination of activities. The strategy contains such projects as construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads, provision of extension services, training of farmers, construction of improved silos and so on. At the end of the day, the road, storage, pricing, market information systems should improve. Easy access to markets will stimulate farmers to produce more for the market. This will result in increased income, high savings and further investment in agriculture.
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A thesis submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Development Planning and Management, 1989
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