Assessing Farm Record Keeping Behaviour among Small-Scale Poultry Farmers in the Ga East Municipality

Tham-Agyekum, Enoch Kwame; Appiah, Patrick; Nimoh, Fred

doi:10.5539/jas.v2n4p52

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In addition, farmers receive assistance from TIST in accessing formal credit. This kind of program not only improves farmers' human capital, especially skills related to record-keeping and farm management, but also introduces carbon certification as an additional source of income (Tham-Agyekum et al 2010;Pagiola et al 2005). EES have led to improvements in/and diversification of farm revenues among adopting farmers (Kagwiria 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of extension and ecosystem services on smallholder’s credit constraint

Benjamin¹,

Blum²,

Punt³

2016

jda

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On formal credit markets, access to formal credit and reasonable credit terms of smallholder farmers in rural sub-Saharan Africa is limited due to adverse selection. Financial institutions operating in rural areas often cannot distinguish between borrowers (farmers) that are creditworthy and those that are not, thus, allocate limited resource to agriculture to reduce credit risk. In the presence of limited business quality signaling by smallholder farmers, financial institutions shall demand for collateral and/or offer unfavorable contract terms. Moreover, agricultural productivity of rural sub-Saharan Africa, dominated by subsistence or small-scale farmers, is also negatively impacted by the adverse effect of climate change. A strategy that may make the farming practices of smallholder farmer's climate resilient and profitable may also improve smallholder farmer's access to formal credit. This study investigates to what extent participating in ecosystem and extension services (EES) programs signals business quality of smallholders, thus granting them credit accessibility. We collected data on 210 smallholder farmers in 2013, comprising farmers that receive payments for ecosystem services (PES) and farm management training from the International Small Group Tree Planting Program (TIST) Kenya to test the aforementioned theory empirically. We use game theory, particularly a screening and sorting model, to illustrate the prospects for farmers with EES to access formal credit and to improve their credit terms given that they receive PES and banking services training. Furthermore, the PES' long term duration (10 -30 years) generates stable cash-flow which may be perceived as collateral substitute. Results suggest that smallholder farmers in the TIST program were less likely to be credit constraint compared to non-TIST farmers. Distance to market, education, livestock and farm income are factors that determine access to credit from microfinance institutions in rural Kenya. Amongst farmers that have obtained loans, those keeping business records enjoy more favorable formal credit conditions. These farmers were observed to pay ca. 5 percent less interest rate in microfinance charges. For TIST farmers, this type of farm management practices may be attributed to the banking services and other training they receive within the program. While the availability of classical collateral (farmlands) and PES may reduce interest rate, the latter was found to be statistically insignificant. This research underlines the importance of an effective extension services in rural areas of developing countries and the need to improve gains from conservation agriculture and ensuing PES. The benefits associated with EES and PES may encompass agricultural financing.JEL Classifications: D2, D8, G2, Q1, Q2

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of extension and ecosystem services on smallholder’s credit constraint

Benjamin¹,

Blum²,

Punt³

2016

jda

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“…However, several other countries in the region are yet to make such steps especially if they are located in conflict regions. Apart from providing information to farmers, good records and data can enhance access to agricultural credit which remains a major challenge for many farmers in Africa (Denkyirah et al, 2016;Tham-Agyekum, 2010). Banks regard agriculture as a very risky business to finance.…”

Section: Promoting a Culture Of Documentation Record Keeping And Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Documentation and Data Handling: How can Africa Promote Record Keeping and Investment in Data Management?

Kuteesa¹,

Kyotalimye²

2019

AJFAND

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The presence of quality data and data management is important for the future of food in Africa. Data management can impact agriculture sector performance and food security because it facilitates the identification of agriculture sector problems and planning. However, existing systems, data collection practices, record keeping and handling are all challenged by a myriad of factors that undermine quantity and quality of data output. This paper discusses how countries can improve and implement data capture, record keeping and investment in data management. Using past literature and data management, we assess the current status of data management systems and challenges faced at the farmer, local/NGO, national and international levels. Drawing on best practices currently at work in the private sector and amongst NGO-supported projects, we identify potential investment opportunities and incentives that could promote a culture of record keeping, documentation, data management. Over time, investing in projects that have built-in incentives that solve farmer needs can facilitate record keeping at the farmer level. Putting in place mechanisms such as central registries and platforms for sharing information and coordinating local initiatives can promote the culture of documentation and data management at the local/NGO level. Improvements at the national level may stem from investing more in human and financial resources, capitalizing on public-private partnerships to develop and deploy innovative digital tools for data collection and management, as well as building stronger linkages and tapping into international capacities of agricultural data collection.

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“…Hewlett (undated) noted that several options exist for handling farm information system; which range from paper forms to be filled by hand to computerised systems. Tham-Agyekum et al (2010) established in a study of 50 poultry farmers in Ga-East Municipality in Ghana that 100% of the respondents kept some form of farm record. Most farmers keep their farm records manually (Jeyabalan, 2010).…”

Section: Records Mode Of Keeping Frequency and Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ryde & Nuthall (1984) Ferrer, et al, (2003) established that 97% of respondents owned computers and applied it for record-keeping among other uses. Tham-Agyekum et al (2010) concluded that a large proportion (82%) of poultry farmers sampled, kept their farm records manually, that is in books, sheets of papers and temporarily on walls to later transfer into record books. Only 2% adopted the computerised system, using mainly Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Excel and 16% tended to use both systems (manual and computerised).…”

Section: Records Mode Of Keeping Frequency and Usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Silver (2006) further added that, productivity of the small scale farmers can be enhanced by proper management practice emphasising that the most important management tool is proper record-keeping. Devonish et al, (2000), Chapman (2003) and Tham-Agyekum et al (2010) have provided evidence that record-keeping enhanced opportunities of obtaining credit. Farmers are also able to provide needed information continuously for state and national farm policy decisions (Johl & Kapur, 2001).…”

Section: Implications Of Keeping Farm Recordsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Use of Farm Information Systems among Grasscutter Farmers in Ga-South Municipality and Awutu-Senya District in Ghana

Djokoto¹

2012

CIS

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The paper investigated farm information systems use among grasscutter farmers in Ga-South and Awutu-Senya District in Ghana. Using frequency, cross tabulations and binary logit model in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18, the study made some findings. Grasscutter farmers in the study area are ageing. They operate on small scale with males dominating the enterprise. The generally literate farmers used production records mostly. Farmers’ use of farm information systems did not show positive association with obtaining credit from formal credit institutions. The use of books and loose sheets to keep records of farm operations is most popular with the farmers. Use of computers is least popular. Too much work, no reasons for non-use, and inadequate time at their disposal to spare some for recording were some of the reasons adduced for not using farm information systems. Age, level of education, farm size, and farmer status, membership of association, sex, experience and income were found to be independent of farm information systems use. Government and non-governmental organisations must encourage young persons especially females to engage in the enterprise. An investigation into the causes of low farm size will unearth the causes and as such provide ways to increase farm size as most of the farmers are into full time grasscutter rearing. Members of grasscutter farmers association need to step up their membership drive to recruit more farmers into the association as associations are better to relate to and reach with extension effort

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Assessing Farm Record Keeping Behaviour among Small-Scale Poultry Farmers in the Ga East Municipality

Cited by 13 publications

References 2 publications

The impact of extension and ecosystem services on smallholder’s credit constraint

The impact of extension and ecosystem services on smallholder’s credit constraint

Documentation and Data Handling: How can Africa Promote Record Keeping and Investment in Data Management?

The Use of Farm Information Systems among Grasscutter Farmers in Ga-South Municipality and Awutu-Senya District in Ghana

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