January 2022

The use of local knowledge in agricultural extension: A systematic review of the literature

Smallholder farms are complex systems, constantly adapting to context and rely on local, place-based knowledges. The vital role of local knowledge in smallholder farming systems has seen attempts throughout low- and middle-income countries to entwine local knowledge with scientific knowledge to improve outcomes from agricultural extension. Using a systematic review and exploratory meta-synthesis of selected literature,...

Author(s): Kirt Hainzer, Catherine O’Mullan and Philip Hugh Brown

February 2022

Economic empowerment of rural women: Assessing the effectiveness of the rural enterprise program (REP) in Ghana, West Africa

This survey study examines the effectiveness of a Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) in improving the livelihood of rural women in Ghana, using ex-anti and ex-post income determinants of the programme. Some 217 beneficiary women drawn from farm-based, agro-processing, traditional craft, agro industrial and petty trading economic sub-sectors selected to participate in the survey using snow-ball sampling method. Using...

Author(s): Gloria Demedeme and Charles Boateng Opoku  

February 2022

Does access to credit influence the adoption of good agricultural practices? The case of smallholder potato farmers in Molo Sub-County, Kenya

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L) is the major food and cash crop for many rural and semi-urban people in Kenya. It contributes to the national food security, nutrition, and income generation for those who are involved in its value chain. Despite its importance, smallholder potato farmers in Molo sub-county are still recording low potato yields which could partly be attributed to the low adoption of Good Agricultural...

Author(s): Uwamariya Masca, Kyule N. Mirriam and Eric K. Bor  

March 2022

Effects of stakeholder interaction in REDD+ implementation: The case of two forest districts in Ghana

The study adopted a qualitative approach and relied enormously on primary data obtained through interviews and focus group discussions to assess the type of interaction and its effects in the implementation of the REDD+ initiative in two forest districts in Ghana. The country’s involvement in REDD+ began in 2008 and received approval in 2010. Many partners from civil society, private sector, government,...

Author(s): Gladys Nkrumah and Kwame Ameyaw Domfeh