Vulnerability and Responses of Farm Households to Socio-economic Shocks: Evidence from Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality of Ghana

Abstract

Farmer households in Sub-Saharan Africa face severity of exposure to socio-economic shocks, which partly explain the gap in the level of development among countries in this region. These socio-economic shocks are the events that are capable of reducing group or individual's well-being, such as illness, unemployment, or drought, which may cause or compound poverty. Studies on sustainable livelihoods in Ghana and the world at large are mostly characterized by factors that influence poverty and food insecurity. Though there have been many studies on the impacts of socio-economic shocks on rural livelihoods in Ghana, the study adds to the many voices calling for re-look at the policy formulation and management of rural farmer livelihoods in Ghana. Using a total sample of 385 farmers selected from five communities in the Tarkwa-Nsueam municipality through a stratified sampling procedure and both qualitative and quantitative analysis, the findings show that mining activities, poor road conditions, limited access to market information, poor environmental condition, limited access to land, and credit render farmers in the municipality vulnerable. The analysis revealed that the farmers employ individual responses to reduce vulnerability and enhance livelihoods, including artisanal mining (galamsey) activities, trading, borrowing from well to do community members and other menial jobs. Also, the farmers benefit from external intervention from the municipal agriculture development unit, such as education on social issues and training on farming techniques. The study also discovered the absence of agriculture assisted Non-Governmental Organizations in the study community. The study highlights the need for strong policies and more development partners and stakeholder engagements to reduce farmer vulnerability.