Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches

Typologies may be used as tools for dealing with farming system heterogeneity. This is achieved by classifying farms into groups that have common characteristics, i.e. farm types, which can support the implementation of a more tailored approach to agricultural development. This article explored patt...

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Main Author: Kuivanen, K.S.
Format: Tesis
Language:Inglés
Published: Wageningen University & Research 2015
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68648
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author Kuivanen, K.S.
author_browse Kuivanen, K.S.
author_facet Kuivanen, K.S.
author_sort Kuivanen, K.S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Typologies may be used as tools for dealing with farming system heterogeneity. This is achieved by classifying farms into groups that have common characteristics, i.e. farm types, which can support the implementation of a more tailored approach to agricultural development. This article explored patterns of farming system diversity in Ghana’s Northern Region through the classification of 80 smallholder farm households. Based on 2013 survey data, the typology was constructed using the multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Results proposed six farm types, stratified on the basis of household, labour, land use, livestock and income variables, explaining the structural and functional differences between farming systems. Types 1 and 2 were characterized by relatively high levels of resource endowment and oriented towards non-farm activities and crop sales respectively. Types 3 and 4 were moderately resource endowed with income derived primarily from on-farm activities. Types 5 and 6 were resource constrained, with production oriented towards subsistence. It was found that livelihood strategies reflect the distinctive characteristics, opportunities and constraints of farm households- with poorly endowed types restricted to a ‘survival strategy’ and more affluent types free to pursue a ‘development strategy’. We conclude that a more flexible approach to typology construction, for example through the incorporation of farmer perspectives, might provide further context and insight into the drivers of diversity.
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spelling CGSpace686482025-09-17T07:41:38Z Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches Kuivanen, K.S. farming systems Typologies may be used as tools for dealing with farming system heterogeneity. This is achieved by classifying farms into groups that have common characteristics, i.e. farm types, which can support the implementation of a more tailored approach to agricultural development. This article explored patterns of farming system diversity in Ghana’s Northern Region through the classification of 80 smallholder farm households. Based on 2013 survey data, the typology was constructed using the multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Results proposed six farm types, stratified on the basis of household, labour, land use, livestock and income variables, explaining the structural and functional differences between farming systems. Types 1 and 2 were characterized by relatively high levels of resource endowment and oriented towards non-farm activities and crop sales respectively. Types 3 and 4 were moderately resource endowed with income derived primarily from on-farm activities. Types 5 and 6 were resource constrained, with production oriented towards subsistence. It was found that livelihood strategies reflect the distinctive characteristics, opportunities and constraints of farm households- with poorly endowed types restricted to a ‘survival strategy’ and more affluent types free to pursue a ‘development strategy’. We conclude that a more flexible approach to typology construction, for example through the incorporation of farmer perspectives, might provide further context and insight into the drivers of diversity. 2015-05-30 2015-10-23T10:45:20Z 2015-10-23T10:45:20Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68648 en Limited Access application/pdf Wageningen University & Research Kuivanen, K.S. 2015. Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches. MSc thesis in Organic Agriculture. Wageningen, The Netherlands: Wageningen University.
spellingShingle farming systems
Kuivanen, K.S.
Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title_full Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title_fullStr Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title_full_unstemmed Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title_short Dealing with farming system diversity in northern Ghana: Typology approaches
title_sort dealing with farming system diversity in northern ghana typology approaches
topic farming systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68648
work_keys_str_mv AT kuivanenks dealingwithfarmingsystemdiversityinnorthernghanatypologyapproaches