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An exploratory survey of small-scale off-farm economic activities and sustainable household livelihoods in the Bongo District of Ghana

Ghana Journal of Development Studies

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Title An exploratory survey of small-scale off-farm economic activities and sustainable household livelihoods in the Bongo District of Ghana
 
Creator Bacho, FZL
 
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Description Small scale off-farm economic activities are believed to be a potential frontier for generating additional livelihoods support to sustain the farm household in rural Ghana. Despite this general belief, very little has been done to provide adequate information that might be utilized by policy makers and practitioners for possible intervention. The purpose of this exploratory survey is to examine the potential of small scale off-farm economic activities in sustaining household livelihoods, using three communities in Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana as a case study. The data for this study is derived from a larger survey, covering a wide range of issues including small scale off- farm economic activities, conducted in the eastern portion of the district – Bongo–Soe, Adaboya and Apatanga communities. The key findings are that, although their operations remain at a low level, small-scale off-farm economic activities contribute between 3.2 and 14.6 per cent to household incomes. The incomes from these operations serve strategic livelihood purposes, especially in sustaining the household during the excruciating lean season, when households habitually run out of all food stock. The incomes earned also serve other useful social and economic functions, such as the payment of bride price, funeral performance, the purchase of agricultural inputs and investment in livestock and human capital. It is therefore recommended that, development agencies like the Non Governmental Organizations, the District Assemblies and financial institutions consider supporting households to improve their skills, expand operations, and improve the product quality since this will enhance the livelihood chances of poor households in a derelict environment.
Ghana Journal of Development Studies Vol.1(2) 2004: 27-49
 
Publisher Faculty of Integrated Development Studies, University for Development Studies, Ghana
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2005-07-28
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
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Format application/pdf
 
Identifier https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjds/article/view/35005
10.4314/gjds.v1i2.35005
 
Source Ghana Journal of Development Studies; Vol 1, No 2 (2004); 27-49
0855-6768
 
Language eng
 
Relation https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjds/article/view/35005/24926
 
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Rights © 2018 The authors.The Ghana Journal of Development Studies is published twice a year (May & October) by the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies as a service to development related research.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the written authorisation of the publisher and copyright owner.The content is licensed uder a CC-BY license.