Agricultural Productivity in Ghana

Outputs

Nationally Representative Farm/Household Level Dataset on Crop Production in Ghana from 1987-2017 

Tsiboe, F. Non-refereed paper available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4134518 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4134518 

Reliable and comprehensive national agricultural statistics is crucial not only for agricultural development but general economic transformation. While data collected via the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) provides Ghana with this avenue, the reports from this data generated by the Ghana Statistical Service neither consider the trends nor in-depth analysis of agricultural statistics. This paper sets the premise to fill this knowledge gap by harmonizing and generating a nationally representative micro level dataset from all previous LSMSs. The harmonized data has the widest geographic and seasonal coverage of farmers in Ghana. As such it presents a unique opportunity to empirically analyze key agricultural phenomena at the household if not at the farmer level. [Codes and data] 

Technology and managerial performance of farm operators by age in Ghana

Asravor J., Tsiboe, F., Asravor R.K., Wiredu A.N., and Zeller M. Journal of Productivity Analysis (2023)

Farm-level decision-making by resource-constrained smallholder farmers, such as investment in improved farm management practices and technologies may considerably be influenced by the age of farm operators. However, evidence of the effect of farm operators’ age on farm efficiency and technological endowment, and consequently on agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa has been inexact. To contribute to an improved understanding of the age-efficiency-productivity nexus, this study investigates the impacts of farm operators’ age on agricultural productivity by evaluating the managerial performance and technological endowment of the operators, disaggregated across three age cohorts, viz. the youth, middle-aged and the aged. We fit the meta-stochastic frontier statistical framework to a country-wide sample of 24,596 farm households, spanning three decades of data collection in Ghana. The results show that relative to the potentials of each age cohort, more output can be generated using currently allocated inputs, but under improved farm management practices. Whereas we did not find evidence for possible age-related technological differences in agricultural production in Ghana, we did find strong support for possible age-induced managerial differences in farm production, with youth operators being more efficient than their middle-aged and aged peers. Consequently, the age of farm operators significantly affects agricultural productivity in Ghana through their efficiency of resource allocation. We find these results relevant for policy attention, in terms of the targeting of support to farm operators in the various age cohorts and in the country’s quest to achieve greater agricultural productivity. [Codes and data] 

Taking stock of gender gaps in crop production technology adoption and technical efficiency in Ghana 

Adaku A.A., Tsiboe, F., and Clottey, J. Agrekon (2023)

There is a strong linkage between agricultural performance and economic growth amongst developing countries. However, the gain from agricultural performance disproportionately trickles down to the poor and this can be partly reduced by addressing gender differences in agricultural production. Historically, the validity of gender statistics has been questioned as to the way researchers and policymakers describe gender differences also affects how they perceive and try to address it. Amid these antecedents, this study contributes to the literature on this front by applying a stylized translog meta-stochastic frontier to data pooled from 9 cross-sectional population-based surveys that represent about three decades (1986-2017) of the production history for 12 crops in Ghana to assess the dynamics of gender gaps in farm output due to technology gaps and technical efficiency. The results indicate that female farmers exhibit technology gap and technical efficiency scores of 23 and 77% while their male counterparts exhibit scores of 18 and 73%, respectively. The technical efficiency gap of 4% against male farmers has remained relatively steady over the three decades while the technology adoption gap against females has reduced from 18% by about 0.8% annually to 7%. Female farmers operate at 59% of the potential possible given the overall crop production technology in Ghana, whiles their male counterparts operated at 61%. Overall, over the three decades, the estimated crop production gap of 9.13% against females shifted to a gap estimated at 4.37% against males.  [Codes and data] 

Starchy Staples Production Shortfall in Ghana is influenced by Technical Inefficiency than by Ecological Technology Gaps

Ansah IGK, Appiah-Twumasi M, Tsiboe F. PLoS ONE 18(4), (2023)

Starchy staples are a major source of livelihood support for farmers, traders, and processors who participate in these crops’ value chains, while also providing staple food to many people, especially the less affluent in society. Despite this position, the productivity figures of starchy staples are low. We use a unique data set and meta-frontier efficiency analysis to assess whether the production shortfalls of major starchy staple crops in Ghana could be attributed to technical inefficiency, technology gaps or both. Results show strong evidence of about 50% production shortfall for cassava, yam, cocoyam, and plantain. For cassava production, the Guinea Savannah zone has the most superior technology, with a technology gap ratio of 0.92, while yam production is more technically efficient in the Sudan Savannah zone, with a technical efficiency score of 0.67. Cocoyam production is more technically efficient (0.56) in the Transition zone, but yam is more technically efficiently produced in the Coastal Savannah zone of Ghana. These results show that production shortfall is more influenced by pure farmer technical inefficiencies (about 45%) rather than by technology gaps (about 20%) along ecological lines. Thus, the sector could benefit from improvements in farmer managerial skills and efficient use of existing technologies. [Codes and data] 

Production Technology, Efficiency, and Productivity of Cereal Farms: Prospects for enhancing Farm Performance in Ghana 

Tsiboe, F., Asravor, J., Owusu, V. , and Mensah-Bonsu, A. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 1-31, (2022)

Over the past three decades, the cereal subsector in Ghana has contributed immensely to food security in the country. However, limited evidence exists on the production performance of this subsector, particularly in terms of heterogeneities across agro-ecological zones. This paper analyzes the production technology and performance of the cereal subsector in Ghana using a nationally representative data set from 26,449 cereal farms and the meta-stochastic frontier approach. The empirical results suggest that the estimated factor inputs contribute substantially to cereal output, with land and seed exerting the highest impacts across all agro-ecological zones. The evidence further shows that the agro-ecology of cereal farms plays a crucial role in the performance of the subsector. The mean technical efficiency estimates strongly suggest that cereal farms in all agro-ecologies exhibit some degrees of production inefficiency. The findings further reveal total output from the meta-frontier to be much superior to those generated by cereal farms in all agro-ecologies of Ghana, indicating the existence of opportunities for cereal output gains in all agro-ecologies. We find heterogeneities in farm management practices and production technology across the various crops and agro-ecological zones to be relevant sources for cereal productivity growth in Ghana. [Codes and data]

Chronic Sources of Low Cocoa Production in Ghana: New Insights from Meta-Analysis of Old Survey Data 

Tsiboe, F. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 50(2), 226-25 1 (2021)

Several studies have tried to estimate the productivity and input use efficiency of cocoa farmers in Ghana, but they shed limited light on their chronic nature and other sources of low production. This study extends the literature by analyzing a unique nationally representative household sample that constitutes 30 years of production. Results showed that pure farmer technical inefficiency is not only 8% points larger than the regional technology gap, but also consistently dominated the overall performance of farmers compared to the industrial frontier from 1987 to 2017. The policy implication of this finding at face value suggests that improving farmer managerial skills could increase output.  [Codes and data]

Effect of Fertilizer Subsidy on Household Level Cereal Production in Ghana

Tsiboe, F., Egyir, I. S., & Anaman, G. Scientific African, 13. e00916. (2021)

Agricultural input subsidy programs have once again become a major plank of policies in Africa, aimed at productivity improvements and poverty reduction among farmers. In Ghana, a nationwide Fertilizer Subsidy Program (GFSP) was commenced in 2008. However, there has been limited rigorous evaluation of its impact on crop yields to date. Using matching methods, this study estimated the treatment effect of GFSP on a cross-sectional sample of 5,923 cereal households drawn from a population-based survey dataset for 2012/13 and 2016/17. Results showed that cereal yield enhancement attributable to GFSP was 24.5%. Additionally, the effect disaggregated by type of cereal showed that farmers cultivating maize benefited the most. These findings support the ability of GFSP ability to improve productivity. [Codes and data]

Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Dry Beans and Groundnut Production Technology and Inefficiency in Ghana

Tsiboe, F., Aseete, P., & Djokoto, J. G. Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 24(1), 76–87. (2021)

Research background: A combination of technology and efficiency gains will drive future intensification programs aimed at fostering food and nutrition security in the developing world. Specifically, the adoption of improved varieties and use of quality seed alongside good agronomic practices will be critical. Purpose of the article: Given the space-time availability of technology, this study investigates how production efficiency (technical efficiency, technology gap, and meta technical efficiency) has changed over time and assesses the possibility of heterogeneous technology adoption in Ghana. Methods: The study constructs a rich nationally representative dataset of dry beans and groundnut farmers that constitutes 15 production seasons in Ghana. Using a sample of 10,518 farmers from 10,051 households, a Meta Stochastic Frontier (MSF) approach is used to access changes and determinants efficiency and technology adoption. Findings & Value added: We find that farms are operating under heterogeneous technologies along ecological lines and that the technology gap has been reducing over time. Improvements in meta technical efficiency could be driven by the gains in the technology gap ratio. Technical efficiency levels across the two legumes averaged about 61% and did not significantly improve between 1987 to 2017. The key determinants for the observed trends were farmer education, mechanization, access to agricultural extension services, and land ownership. Holding ecological technologies constant, legume farmers generally performed poorly because of technical inefficiency, implying that a general improvement in farmer managerial skills could substantially improve farm output. The study recommends policies/programs be formulated on a case-by-case basis; to ensure specificity and wider impacts, if production is to improve. [Codes and data]

Vegetable Production Technical Efficiency and Technology Gaps in Ghana. 

Tsiboe, F., Asravor, J., & Osei, E. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 14 (4), 255-278 (2019)

This study characterizes the nature of the vegetable production shortfall throughout Ghana for remedial action to be taken. By applying the meta-stochastic frontier analysis to a sample of okra, pepper and tomato farmers, the results show that the ranking of production inputs in production is in the order land, hired labor, fertilizer, pesticide and family labor. Furthermore, the results also suggest that vegetable production is characterized by diseconomies of scale. Technical efficiency for okra, pepper and tomato farmers in Ghana is estimated at 54%, 74% and 58% respectively, and this has generally increased for okra and pepper but remained stable for tomato. Technology gaps are close to non-existent for pepper cultivation, modest for tomato, and severe for okra. This implies that, whilst there is no potential for production gain from redistributing pepper technology throughout Ghana, there is limited potential for tomato and substantial potential for okra. Pepper farmers could potentially benefit from managerial improvements. [Codes and data]