Beyond yields: multidimensional livelihood outcomes of conservation agriculture among smallholder farmers in northern Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JAES.6.2.65-74Keywords:
Conservation agriculture, Ghana, Rural livelihoods, Smallholder farmers, Sustainable livelihoods approachAbstract
Conservation agriculture (CA) is promoted globally as climate-smart, yet studies on its broader livelihood outcomes remain fragmented. This study evaluates the multidimensional livelihood impacts of CA promoted under the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Program (GASIP) across the five capitals in the Upper West Region. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted 300 surveys, 10 key informant interviews, and 6 focus group discussions with farmers and the project implementation team. The results indicate significant gains in agronomic knowledge, psychosocial well-being, social cohesion, soil fertility, food access, productive assets, income, savings, and financial inclusion, supported by strong farmer-to-farmer knowledge diffusion and Village Savings and Loans Associations. At the same time, youth under-representation, persistent gendered land constraints, and varied financial and asset gains reveal important distributional limitations. We argue that integrated CA interventions linking training, mechanisation, irrigation, and local financial institutions can strengthen resilience, but must address targeting, equity, and long-term sustainability.
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