Impact of the government of Ghana block farm program on rural households in Northern Ghana
3rd Global Food Security, Food Safety & Sustainability Conference
May 21-22, 2018 | New York, USA

Kwaku Antwi

Texas Tech University, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

This paper investigates the impact of the government of Ghana block farm program participation on rural households�?? farm productivity, income, food security and nutritional status in Northern Ghana using cross-sectional data. Data analysis was done using the Instrumental Variable and the Heckman Selection Bias Model procedures. Our analysis indicates that participation in the block farm program significantly increased the productivity of maize, rice, and soybean by 21.3 percent, 15.8 percent, and 12.3 percent respectively. Also, the program participation was found to increase households farm income by 20 percent in northern Ghana. Furthermore, program participation was found to improve household food security and nutrition by 19 percent and 14 percent respectively through its income effect. Based on the benefit-cost ratio of 1.59 the results from the study recommend that the program is expanded to other communities in the northern region. Further analysis indicates that rural households�?? decision to participate in food security intervention programs is significantly influenced by factors including the gender of the household head, the age of the household head, and household size. Results of the study further show that gender of household head, household size, household monthly income, household assets, women educational status, the age of women, marital status of women, are significant determinants of food security and nutrition status in Northern Ghana. antwikwaku8085@yahoo.com