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This paper takes its point of departure from the school of thought that linkages in agricultural commodity value chains may hold the key to making actors in the chain innovative. Ghana's agricultural export sector is characterized by two main types of export: traditional and non-traditional. The traditional agricultural export sector is driven largely by the cocoa industry, while the pineapple industry represents one of the leading commodity industries in the non-traditional export sector. Using a multiple case study methodology, the paper seeks to examine how the policy environment could strengthen value chain linkages and make activities in the value chains more competitive. The study was derived from interactions with actors in the cocoa and pineapple value chains, namely input suppliers, producers, buyers, processors and some support services providers and regulatory agencies. The intention was to assemble their perceptions as interpreted in their own settings. The study showed how the existing policy on research, extension and marketing had encouraged better linkages horizontally and vertically among actors in the pineapple value chain. On the other hand, the policy underpinned by a public sector leadership in the cocoa value chain, had lowered the motivation for stronger linkages in the cocoa value chain. In terms of policy implication, the study makes a strong case for more participation of private sector actors as it is more likely to expand the platform for more interactive learning among actors for their mutual benefit.

Background Ghana’s smallholder share area under cultivation is witnessing a gradual decline, relative to the share of farmland under medium scale that is growing rapidly. Little attention has, however, been given to examining the drivers that influence scale of operation. Method Using survey data from 231 farmers, this study employed the binary probit regression to assess factors that influence scale of farm operation among cassava and maize farmers in Ghana’s Eastern Region. Results The findings showed that factors that were significant and positively related to farm size were age, secondary education, land acquisition for maize farmers, and tertiary education for cassava farmers. On the other hand, factors that were significant and negatively related to farm size were gender, marital status, access to extension services for cassava farmers, and household size, membership of farmer-based organization and access to credit for maize farmers. Conclusion The study recommends the provision of mechanization support for medium-scale farmers coupled with the improvement of extension service delivery to medium-scale farmers. With messages focused on the adoption of improved technologies and mechanization of farm operations.

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