Assessment of livelihoods of three actors along the cassava value chain in Mampong and Techiman Municipalities
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Date
2016
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Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the livelihoods of selected actors along the cassava value chain in Ghana. A total of 390 actors were sampled using a multi staged sampling technique from six communities in Techiman and Mampong Municipalities. Focus group discussions, interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data. The objectives of the study were to identify some major livelihood resources/assets of selected actors; identify the main vulnerability context of actors selected; identify key policies, institutions and processes and their effects on selected actors; and to identify livelihood sustainability strategies that affect the selected actors. From the results, actors identified within the communities were farmers, processors and marketers. The processors in the study areas were mostly gari, agbelima and kokonte processors. Actors had some form of human, social, physical, natural and financial assets but these were inadequate to meet their goals. The actors were affected directly and indirectly by local cultures and laws as well as national policies. One major constraint that affected all actors was financial problems. This greatly hampered both farmers and processors assess of loans. To help make up their livelihoods most actors adopted various strategies such as farming other crops, processing other products, sale of other products, driving among many others. The research recommended that the actors should be encouraged to join work related societies that will help them pull resources. Also, the chain should be increased to bring on-board other actors such as brewery and textile companies. In addition, interventions should be geared at improving and enhancing actors’ access of various resources most especially, financial and human since this would help them in achieving sustainable livelihoods.
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A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Philosophy degree in Sustainable and Integrated Rural Development,