Labour-saving or mechanization technologies have become the driving force behind modern agriculture, yet adoption of these technologies remains low in many parts of the developing world, particularly among female farm...Labour-saving or mechanization technologies have become the driving force behind modern agriculture, yet adoption of these technologies remains low in many parts of the developing world, particularly among female farmers in Ghana. This study aims to investigate the factors that hinder the adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies by female farmers in the Karaga District of the Northern Region of Ghana. This region is known for its large agricultural lands and significant role in commercial farming. The research was conducted using qualitative research methodology and involved interviewing 60 female farmers using an interview guide. The principle of sample saturation was used, meaning that further interviews were deemed unnecessary after the 60th interview. The results showed that low adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies is due to poor access to commercial lands, gender biases, lack of access to credit, and poor awareness about the benefits of these technologies. In conclusion, the low adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies is preventing women farmers in the Karaga District and elsewhere in Ghana from fully participating in commercial agricultural production. It is recommended that gender biases and cultural stereotypes be addressed to improve women farmers’ access to lands and credit, which will facilitate the adoption of mechanization technologies and lead to improved agricultural production.展开更多
Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the is...Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the issue of sustainability of their contribution to the food security equation is still a dilemma. This study therefore examined the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with women farmers in accessing and controlling land for sustained agriculture in Northern Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative and utilized various participatory dialogue processes including focus group discussions and key informant interviews of selected women farmer groups, individual farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities in eight communities across four districts in three regions of Northern Ghana. The data was analysed thematically. Results of the study showed that women are disadvantaged in all the possible means of acquiring land for agricultural production-- inheritance, marriage, rent, shared cropping, outright purchase, and gift. It was evident that women have appreciable levels of access to land, but have low level of control of such lands for sustained food production. Several factors, such as low income, socio-cultural factors, climate change, mining, urbanization, low level of education, and low levels of awareness of property and inheritance rights, associate women＇s vulnerability to limited land in the study area. The findings of the study imply that any policy geared toward women empowerment in agriculture must not only target their access to land but also consider enhancing their control over agricultural land. The study therefore recommended that in order to increase food production and security in the study regions, there is the need to strengthen women＇s capacity to defend their land tenure rights and enhance their access and control over land within the context of natural resource management.展开更多
MOVING into the tidy, cozy and newly designed homes, women farmers in Hancunhe Village in the southwest suburb of Beijing feel their lives have really changed. They know the majority of people living in cities do not ...MOVING into the tidy, cozy and newly designed homes, women farmers in Hancunhe Village in the southwest suburb of Beijing feel their lives have really changed. They know the majority of people living in cities do not have such houses. The villa-style houses with large courtyards have water, gas and telephones. They go to work at regular hours instead of getting up展开更多
SHUNYI County, located 30 kilometers outside the urban area of Beijing, is one of the leading food producers for the capital. Once a poor area that could hardly feed its own people, Shunyi County has developed so quic...SHUNYI County, located 30 kilometers outside the urban area of Beijing, is one of the leading food producers for the capital. Once a poor area that could hardly feed its own people, Shunyi County has developed so quickly in the past decade under China’s economic reform that it is now 16th on the list of China’s 100 richest counties. The annual agricultural output value is close to ￥1.1 billion.展开更多
I was told that many women farmers living on the Chinese border do business in Russia. What’s more, the number of successful women in business was increasing year after year. In fact, in the Russian city of Ussuriysk...I was told that many women farmers living on the Chinese border do business in Russia. What’s more, the number of successful women in business was increasing year after year. In fact, in the Russian city of Ussuriysk, which is 53 kilometers away from Dongning County, China, the market has even given rise to a Chinese commodity town and two big warehouses devoted especially to wholesale Chinese commodities. An influential Chinese commodity-distribution center facing Russia’s far east is forming. These facts pique展开更多
文摘Labour-saving or mechanization technologies have become the driving force behind modern agriculture, yet adoption of these technologies remains low in many parts of the developing world, particularly among female farmers in Ghana. This study aims to investigate the factors that hinder the adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies by female farmers in the Karaga District of the Northern Region of Ghana. This region is known for its large agricultural lands and significant role in commercial farming. The research was conducted using qualitative research methodology and involved interviewing 60 female farmers using an interview guide. The principle of sample saturation was used, meaning that further interviews were deemed unnecessary after the 60th interview. The results showed that low adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies is due to poor access to commercial lands, gender biases, lack of access to credit, and poor awareness about the benefits of these technologies. In conclusion, the low adoption of agricultural mechanization technologies is preventing women farmers in the Karaga District and elsewhere in Ghana from fully participating in commercial agricultural production. It is recommended that gender biases and cultural stereotypes be addressed to improve women farmers’ access to lands and credit, which will facilitate the adoption of mechanization technologies and lead to improved agricultural production.
文摘Women contribution to all the four pillars of food security （food availability, accessibility, utilization, and sovereignty） has been well established in Ghana and many sub-Saharan African countries. However, the issue of sustainability of their contribution to the food security equation is still a dilemma. This study therefore examined the challenges and vulnerabilities associated with women farmers in accessing and controlling land for sustained agriculture in Northern Ghana. The study was mainly qualitative and utilized various participatory dialogue processes including focus group discussions and key informant interviews of selected women farmer groups, individual farmers, opinion leaders and traditional authorities in eight communities across four districts in three regions of Northern Ghana. The data was analysed thematically. Results of the study showed that women are disadvantaged in all the possible means of acquiring land for agricultural production-- inheritance, marriage, rent, shared cropping, outright purchase, and gift. It was evident that women have appreciable levels of access to land, but have low level of control of such lands for sustained food production. Several factors, such as low income, socio-cultural factors, climate change, mining, urbanization, low level of education, and low levels of awareness of property and inheritance rights, associate women＇s vulnerability to limited land in the study area. The findings of the study imply that any policy geared toward women empowerment in agriculture must not only target their access to land but also consider enhancing their control over agricultural land. The study therefore recommended that in order to increase food production and security in the study regions, there is the need to strengthen women＇s capacity to defend their land tenure rights and enhance their access and control over land within the context of natural resource management.
文摘MOVING into the tidy, cozy and newly designed homes, women farmers in Hancunhe Village in the southwest suburb of Beijing feel their lives have really changed. They know the majority of people living in cities do not have such houses. The villa-style houses with large courtyards have water, gas and telephones. They go to work at regular hours instead of getting up
文摘SHUNYI County, located 30 kilometers outside the urban area of Beijing, is one of the leading food producers for the capital. Once a poor area that could hardly feed its own people, Shunyi County has developed so quickly in the past decade under China’s economic reform that it is now 16th on the list of China’s 100 richest counties. The annual agricultural output value is close to ￥1.1 billion.
文摘I was told that many women farmers living on the Chinese border do business in Russia. What’s more, the number of successful women in business was increasing year after year. In fact, in the Russian city of Ussuriysk, which is 53 kilometers away from Dongning County, China, the market has even given rise to a Chinese commodity town and two big warehouses devoted especially to wholesale Chinese commodities. An influential Chinese commodity-distribution center facing Russia’s far east is forming. These facts pique
