Consuming a cyanogenic plant is an etiological factor to the persistence of iodine deficiency in the post salt iodization phase. Ghana, notably the Northern belt, still reports of iodine deficiency after 14 years of m...Consuming a cyanogenic plant is an etiological factor to the persistence of iodine deficiency in the post salt iodization phase. Ghana, notably the Northern belt, still reports of iodine deficiency after 14 years of mandatory consumption of iodized salt by an Act of Parliament. The study aimed at determining the cyanide contents of leaves of commonly consumed cassava varieties in Ghana and investigating the effects of some environmental factors on cyanide content. Three communities each from Southern, Middle and Northern Ghana served as the study sites from where young, non-diseased and fully-spread cassava leaves were sampled from plants of commonly consumed cassava varieties. Cyanide was analyzed by the standard color^metric method based on the chloramine-T/pyridine-barbituric acid protocol （4500-CN E）. Cassava leaves from Northern Ghana had significantly higher mean cyanide content （177.22 ± 20.82 ppm） than those from Middle （130.83± 33.00 ppm） and Southern Ghana （127.24 ± 37.54 ppm） （P 〈 0.001）. Two-factor ANOVA showed significantly higher adverse environmental effects on cyanide contents of leaves of unimproved cassava varieties than improved ones （R2 = 0.627, P = 0.023）. From multiple regression analysis, temperature was the most significant environmental factor explaining 33% of the variability in cyanide content （R2 = 0.331, P = 0.002）, followed by altitude （R2 = 0.106, P = 0.049） and rainfall （R2 = 0.084, P = 0.062）. The high cyanide contents of cassava leaves from Northern Ghana, due principally to the high atmospheric temperature, may be a contributory factor to the high prevalence of goiter and the persistence of iodine deficiency in that geographic region.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
The poor performance of the agricultural sector as reflected in high prices of food stuffs as well as huge importation of food has been a major concern to many governments in Africa. Agriculture remains the backbone o...The poor performance of the agricultural sector as reflected in high prices of food stuffs as well as huge importation of food has been a major concern to many governments in Africa. Agriculture remains the backbone of Ghana＇s economy and women who constitute about 70% to 80% of farm labour face discrimination in terms of means of production such as land. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of women＇s land rights on food production in the Brong-Ahafo region which is Ghana＇s food basket. Several land reforms have been instituted to ensure equitable access to land in order to enhance food production, yet the study reveals that many women have limited or no access to land and experience insecurity of tenure, which affects their farming methods, choice of crops grown, and production levels, consequently, resulting in low incomes and poverty. Relevant Primary Rate Access （RPRA） tools were used to gather data. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using Statistic Package for Social Science （SPSS） and Microsoft soRwares and presented into percentages, tabulation, and graphics. The research also revealed that the lack of awareness and education on land reforms and policies coupled with escalating land prices and complicated land transaction method are the major challenges to women＇s access and security over land. The study recommends the decentralization of the land title registration process, gender mainstreaming in the land title registration process, and intensification of advocacy on land rights, among others as crucial to improve women＇s access, control, and security over land for agricultural purposes展开更多
This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using p...This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.展开更多
文摘Consuming a cyanogenic plant is an etiological factor to the persistence of iodine deficiency in the post salt iodization phase. Ghana, notably the Northern belt, still reports of iodine deficiency after 14 years of mandatory consumption of iodized salt by an Act of Parliament. The study aimed at determining the cyanide contents of leaves of commonly consumed cassava varieties in Ghana and investigating the effects of some environmental factors on cyanide content. Three communities each from Southern, Middle and Northern Ghana served as the study sites from where young, non-diseased and fully-spread cassava leaves were sampled from plants of commonly consumed cassava varieties. Cyanide was analyzed by the standard color^metric method based on the chloramine-T/pyridine-barbituric acid protocol （4500-CN E）. Cassava leaves from Northern Ghana had significantly higher mean cyanide content （177.22 ± 20.82 ppm） than those from Middle （130.83± 33.00 ppm） and Southern Ghana （127.24 ± 37.54 ppm） （P 〈 0.001）. Two-factor ANOVA showed significantly higher adverse environmental effects on cyanide contents of leaves of unimproved cassava varieties than improved ones （R2 = 0.627, P = 0.023）. From multiple regression analysis, temperature was the most significant environmental factor explaining 33% of the variability in cyanide content （R2 = 0.331, P = 0.002）, followed by altitude （R2 = 0.106, P = 0.049） and rainfall （R2 = 0.084, P = 0.062）. The high cyanide contents of cassava leaves from Northern Ghana, due principally to the high atmospheric temperature, may be a contributory factor to the high prevalence of goiter and the persistence of iodine deficiency in that geographic region.
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The poor performance of the agricultural sector as reflected in high prices of food stuffs as well as huge importation of food has been a major concern to many governments in Africa. Agriculture remains the backbone of Ghana＇s economy and women who constitute about 70% to 80% of farm labour face discrimination in terms of means of production such as land. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of women＇s land rights on food production in the Brong-Ahafo region which is Ghana＇s food basket. Several land reforms have been instituted to ensure equitable access to land in order to enhance food production, yet the study reveals that many women have limited or no access to land and experience insecurity of tenure, which affects their farming methods, choice of crops grown, and production levels, consequently, resulting in low incomes and poverty. Relevant Primary Rate Access （RPRA） tools were used to gather data. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using Statistic Package for Social Science （SPSS） and Microsoft soRwares and presented into percentages, tabulation, and graphics. The research also revealed that the lack of awareness and education on land reforms and policies coupled with escalating land prices and complicated land transaction method are the major challenges to women＇s access and security over land. The study recommends the decentralization of the land title registration process, gender mainstreaming in the land title registration process, and intensification of advocacy on land rights, among others as crucial to improve women＇s access, control, and security over land for agricultural purposes
文摘This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.
