Barriers to smallholder plantation development in off-reserve forest areas in Ghana (a case study in three selected forest districts)
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Date
MAY, 2016
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Abstract
A study was carried out on smallholder plantation establishment in the off-reserve areas in three forest districts namely Offinso, Kintampo and Dunkwa. The main objectives were; firstly, to identify the objectives and motivation for smallholder tree planting; secondly, to identify barriers to tree planting; and finally, based on the barriers identified, propose options to address them. Data on objectives and barriers were collected and analysed using SPSS v.17 and Excel softwares whiles an expert consultative meeting was held to collect data on the options to address the identified barriers. Results indicated that the major objective for tree planting in off-reserve areas is financial returns. Low pricing of trees emerged as the major barrier to tree planting in the off-reserve areas. Kruskal Wallis H test showed that price varied significantly across the three districts for species of the same age class and size range. Tree growers also lacked technical capacity to maintain their stands resulting in low quality of the stands. Experts in forest plantation development in Ghana proposed options including publishing of guiding prices for the sale of teak and other species on the Forestry Commission (FC) website to guide tree growers’ negotiation for better prices for their trees. This is because tree growers lacked information on market prices to guide them in negotiations with buyers. Tree growers are willing to continue planting and expanding their plantations if they have maximum benefits accruing to them from their plantations. Therefore, to ensure participation of more farmers in smallholder plantation establishment in off-reserve areas, it is recommended that the FC provides regular assistance in terms of technical support and also set fixed prices for the purchase of trees in off-reserve areas.
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A thesis submitted to The School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of Master
of Philosophy in Natural Resource and Environmental Governance.