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Moderated e-mail conference on small farms and food security

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Mon, 24 Oct 2016 16:47:37 +0000
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This is Richard Yeboab, from Ghana, again.

Regarding Question 3.4.2:

Small farms contribute to all three dimensions of sustainability. In Ghana, for example, most of the food that feeds the nation is said to be from small farms hence it contributes so much to economy as well as social. Their operations contribute negatively to the environment because of the practices. Continuous use of the land has made many land marginal. Fertility is low. In the dry season, grazing and wild fires destroy the vegetation and expose the soil to all the forms of erosion. Where tree crops, e.g. mango, cashew are cultivated they contribute to the environment. But, in general, in Ghana they contribute more to the social dimension (household food security).

Regarding Question 3.4.1:

How can small farms contribute to sustainable food and nutrition security (FNS)? There are two major ways. 

First, the need to increase yield. Yields are quite low. The average yield of maize, for example, in Ghana is 1.5 tons per ha and other crops are also low. This must be improved so as to contribute to sustainable food security. 

Second, there is the need for education, increase in knowledge of women who prepare the food in balanced diet and a good combination of the produce available to achieve sustainable nutrition security. Small farmers should not only keep animals for sale but should also develop the use of these animals for household consumption.

Richard W. Nartey Yeboah
Department of Agribusiness Management and Finance 
Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences
University for Development Studies
Tamale, 
Ghana
+233-27789282
E-mail: ryeboah(at)uds.edu.gh; narteyrwn(at)hotmail.com

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