A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana

Using remotely sensed land-cover data in 1994 and 2014, and cross-sectional survey data in 2014, this study examines the association between land use and cover change and agricultural productivity in northern Ghana. We document a significant expansion of crop land and settlements (productive use) at...

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Main Authors: Haile, Beliyou, Signorelli, Sara, Azzarri, Carlo, Guo, Zhe
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146754
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author Haile, Beliyou
Signorelli, Sara
Azzarri, Carlo
Guo, Zhe
author_browse Azzarri, Carlo
Guo, Zhe
Haile, Beliyou
Signorelli, Sara
author_facet Haile, Beliyou
Signorelli, Sara
Azzarri, Carlo
Guo, Zhe
author_sort Haile, Beliyou
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Using remotely sensed land-cover data in 1994 and 2014, and cross-sectional survey data in 2014, this study examines the association between land use and cover change and agricultural productivity in northern Ghana. We document a significant expansion of crop land and settlements (productive use) at the expense of natural vegetation cover. Land areas converted from natural cover to productive use have higher maize yield (0.17 tons per hectare) and harvest value (1,021 Ghanaian Cedi) compared with those converted from bare soil to productive cover. Moreover, areas that were covered by shrubs or savannah in 1994 were more productive in 2014 relative to bare soils in 1994. Although our data do not allow us to establish causality, the evidence suggests the importance of past land-cover conditions in affecting current agricultural performance, especially in resource-stricken settings where conservation and restoration practices are not as common.
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spelling CGSpace1467542025-02-24T06:49:00Z A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana Haile, Beliyou Signorelli, Sara Azzarri, Carlo Guo, Zhe land management spatial data geographical information systems land-use mapping spectral analysis spatial distribution agriculture land use productivity agricultural productivity Using remotely sensed land-cover data in 1994 and 2014, and cross-sectional survey data in 2014, this study examines the association between land use and cover change and agricultural productivity in northern Ghana. We document a significant expansion of crop land and settlements (productive use) at the expense of natural vegetation cover. Land areas converted from natural cover to productive use have higher maize yield (0.17 tons per hectare) and harvest value (1,021 Ghanaian Cedi) compared with those converted from bare soil to productive cover. Moreover, areas that were covered by shrubs or savannah in 1994 were more productive in 2014 relative to bare soils in 1994. Although our data do not allow us to establish causality, the evidence suggests the importance of past land-cover conditions in affecting current agricultural performance, especially in resource-stricken settings where conservation and restoration practices are not as common. 2019-02 2024-06-21T09:08:37Z 2024-06-21T09:08:37Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146754 en https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbab054 Limited Access Cambridge University Press Haile, Beliyou; Signorelli, Sara; Azzarri, Carlo; and Guo, Zhe. 2019. A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana. Environment and Development Economics 24(1): 67-86. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355770X18000323
spellingShingle land management
spatial data
geographical information systems
land-use mapping
spectral analysis
spatial distribution
agriculture
land use
productivity
agricultural productivity
Haile, Beliyou
Signorelli, Sara
Azzarri, Carlo
Guo, Zhe
A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title_full A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title_fullStr A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title_full_unstemmed A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title_short A spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance: Evidence from northern Ghana
title_sort spatial analysis of land use and cover change and agricultural performance evidence from northern ghana
topic land management
spatial data
geographical information systems
land-use mapping
spectral analysis
spatial distribution
agriculture
land use
productivity
agricultural productivity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146754
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