Food insecurity and poverty are the greatest global challenges facing the world today. Their redress is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Poverty continues to be pervasive, intractable and inexcusable in the developing world particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Extreme poverty ravages the lives of one in every four in the developing world (i.e. 1.2 billion people). The farming of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is being promoted as a potential solution to the current high rates of malnutrition and poor health of the rural population, the degradation of tropical forests and the spread and intensification of poverty. However, the role of NTFPs in rural development in Ghana remains largely undervalued and understudied. This paper examines the contribution of NTFPs farming in enhancing poverty reduction, food security, sustainable forest management, and livelihoods improvement in the Sefwi Wiawso District (SWD) of the Western Region of Ghana. An exhaustive literature review and analysis of field data collected through administration of questionnaires, interviews and stakeholder consultations indicate that NTFPs are an important tool for addressing poverty amongst marginalised, forest-dependant communities in Ghana. 86% of farmers in SWD depend on NTFPs for income, food and medicine. The results of the study support the call on decision makers and development actors to put NTFPs management on national, regional and district development agendas.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Food Security and Poverty
2.1 What is Poverty?
2.2 OECD’s View on Poverty
2.3 Poverty Trends in the World
3. Poverty and Food Insecurity in Ghana
3.1 The Link between Poverty and the Environment
4. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Farming
4.1 What are NTFPs?
4.2 NTFPs and Poverty Reduction
4.3 The Need for NTFPs Farming
5. Case Study of Sefwi Wiawso District in the Western Region of Ghana
5.1 The Study Location
5.2 Impacts of NTFPs Harvesting in Sefwi Wiawso District
5.3 NTFPs Farming in Ghana
5.4 Impacts of NTFPs Farming
5.4.1 Empowerment and Income Effects
5.4.2 Education and Health
5.4.3 Food Security
5.4.4 Environmental Benefits of NTFPs Farming
6. Challenges and Prospects of NTFPs Farming
6.1 Policy Vacuum
6.2 Inadequate Finance
6.3 Lack of Inputs and Farm Construction Materials
6.4 Lack of Awareness Creation
6.5 Limited Capacity Building Opportunities
6.6 Marketing Constraints
7. Recommendations for Enhancing the Development and Promotion of NTFPs
7.1 Formulation of a Visible National NTFPs Policy
7.1.1 Prevention of Deforestation
7.1.2 Sustainable Forest Management
7.2 Provision of Financial Support to NTFPs Farmers
7.3 Supply of Construction Materials
7.4 Need for an Effective Awareness Creation Programme on NTFPs
7.4.1 Vigorous Environmental Education
7.5 Strengthening the Capacity of NTFPs Farmers and Relevant Stakeholders
7.5.1 Establising NTFPs Demonstration Farms
7.5.2 Provision of Technical and Extension Services
7.6 Facilitating Processing and Marketing of NTFPs
8. Conclusions
9. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Focus
This paper examines the potential of farming non-timber forest products (NTFPs) as a strategic tool to enhance food security, alleviate poverty, and promote sustainable forest management in the Sefwi Wiawso District of Ghana.
- The role of NTFPs in household income and sustenance.
- Economic and social impacts of NTFPs on rural forest-dependent communities.
- Barriers to effective NTFPs farming, including policy, financial, and logistical constraints.
- Strategies for capacity building and better market integration for NTFP farmers.
- The link between sustainable forest management and poverty reduction.
Excerpt from the Book
5.2 Impacts of NTFPs Harvesting in Sefwi Wiawso District
NTFPs have generally been considered as free commodities in Ghana and the Sefwi Wiawso District in particular. For most of the rural poor without land or cocoa in the district, harvesting of wild resources is a common option (Akrasi, 2003). However, the present practice of gathering these products from the forest in the district is obviously unsustainable (Boon E.K, 2003). Ros Tonen (1999) stated that it was incorrect to suggest that NTFPs can be harvested indefinitely without proper management practices and domestication to sustain their yield and therefore called for the need for Non-timber Forest Resources (NTFR) farming.
The heavy dependence of the population of the district on NTFPs and the rapid population growth has contributed to accelerate the destruction of the forests in the area.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter highlights the global challenges of poverty and food insecurity, emphasizing the commitment of world leaders to sustainable development goals while noting the persistence of these issues in developing nations.
2. Food Security and Poverty: The chapter explores the multi-faceted definitions of food security and poverty, providing an overview of how international frameworks like the OECD categorize the dimensions of human deprivation.
3. Poverty and Food Insecurity in Ghana: This section analyzes the rural-urban divide of poverty in Ghana and examines the critical intersection between environmental degradation and poverty levels.
4. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Farming: The chapter defines NTFPs, discusses their importance as a source of income and nutrition, and argues for the necessity of farming these products to ensure sustainability.
5. Case Study of Sefwi Wiawso District in the Western Region of Ghana: This chapter presents empirical field data from the Sefwi Wiawso District, detailing the positive socio-economic impacts of the NTFPs project on local households.
6. Challenges and Prospects of NTFPs Farming: The chapter identifies key obstacles to successful NTFPs farming, such as policy gaps, lack of credit access, and poor infrastructure.
7. Recommendations for Enhancing the Development and Promotion of NTFPs: The chapter proposes strategic interventions, including policy reform, increased financial support, and capacity-building measures, to bolster the NTFPs sector.
8. Conclusions: The final chapter summarizes the findings, reiterating that NTFPs serve as a vital safety net for forest-dependent communities and are essential for long-term sustainable development.
Keywords
Biodiversity, conservation, forest reserves, food security, livelihoods improvement, non-timber forest products, malnutrition, poverty reduction, sustainable forest management, Sefwi Wiawso District, Ghana, agro-forestry, rural development, income generation, environmental policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the contribution of farming non-timber forest products (NTFPs) toward poverty reduction and enhanced food security in the Sefwi Wiawso District of Ghana.
What are the main thematic areas addressed?
The work addresses the intersection of forest resource management, rural poverty dynamics, the economic role of NTFPs, and the necessary policy strategies to support small-scale farmers.
What is the central research question of the paper?
The paper asks how the development and promotion of NTFP farming can serve as an effective instrument to mitigate poverty, improve food security, and ensure sustainable environmental management.
Which scientific methodology was applied in this study?
The study utilized an exhaustive literature review combined with the analysis of field data, which included questionnaires, personal interviews, and extensive stakeholder consultations.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the conceptual background of poverty and food security, the specific socio-economic situation in Ghana, a detailed case study of the Sefwi Wiawso District, and an analysis of operational challenges and prospects for the NTFP sector.
How would you characterize this work through its keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as sustainable forest management, poverty reduction, food security, livelihoods improvement, and non-timber forest products, reflecting its interdisciplinary nature.
What significant result did the survey find regarding farmer assets?
The survey found that since the introduction of NTFP farming, there was a substantial increase in the acquisition of basic household assets, such as radios and televisions, indicating improved economic status.
What role does the 'policy vacuum' play in the challenges described?
The 'policy vacuum' refers to the lack of dedicated legislation for NTFPs, as previous forestry policies focused almost exclusively on timber exploitation, leaving NTFP farmers without proper support or guidance.
Why are grass-cutters, honey, mushrooms, and snails highlighted?
These four products were chosen as the primary focus of an implementation project in the district because they represent a critical, high-potential source of food, nutrition, and income for the local population.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Prof. Dr. Emmanuel Boon (Autor:in), Albert Ahenkan (Autor:in), 2008, Enhancing food security and poverty reduction in Ghana through non-timber forest products farming: Case study of Sefwi Wiawso District, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/86653
