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| Title
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The land has grown old… Time for changing practices?!
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| Subtitle
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Soil fertility management by small-holder farmers in northern Ghana and its Constraints
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| Author
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Vliet van, J., Kamp van der, J.
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| Editor or Organisation
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Resilience
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| Year
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2009
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| Keywords
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Soil Fertility, agro-forestry, increased manure, composting, fallow
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| Country
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Ghana
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| Type
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publication
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| Language
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English
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| Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Farmer’s perceptions on soil fertility
3. Livestock ownership and manure use in Northern Ghana
4. Compost and organic household refuse use
5. Fallow
6. Improved fallow
7. On the use of cover crops or green manuring
8. Use of leaves and tree planting
9. Burning
10. Crop rotation
11. Use of human excreta
12. Use of anti erosion measures
13. Mineral fertilizer
14. On extension services
15. Conclusion and discussion
15.1 Soil quality and decline
15.2 Changing soil fertility practices?
15.3 Impediments to adoption
16. Literature
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| Abstract
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Many organisations (governmental and non-governmental) are actively promoting soil fertility measures like composting, agro-forestry, and increased manure use in villages in Northern Ghana. Adoption rates are low to very low for some practices. This may partly be due to a lack of understanding of the constraints these farmers face in changing their practices. This combined quantitative and qualitative research aims to provide some insights into these constraints.
We interviewed 232 farmers in two regions (Northern Region and Upper East) in Northern Ghana about their soil fertility management strategies. The questionnaire was based on literature review and contained questions on manure use, household waste use, compost making, use of cover crops, fallowing, improved fallows, use of leaves, tree planting, reduced burning, crop rotation, use of human excreta and anti erosion measures. When farmers indicated non-use of the measure they were asked for their reasons not to implement the measure. Besides their own practices, also practices of their parents were analysed to be able to see a possible shift in practices.
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| Permission
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Yes
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| Category
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Resource Management
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| File
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