Abstract:
ABSTRACT
The Ghana government has been pursuing the commercialisation of mushrooms
since 1990, in accordance with the Food and Agriculture Sector Development
Policy (FASDEP), which aims to promote the commercialisation of smallholder
farmers. The study explored the drivers of mushroom commercialisation in the
Ga East and Adentan municipalities in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The
study used a structured interview schedule to collect data from 153 mushroom
producers in the study area, using a quantitative research approach, cross-
sectional survey design and census. The data were analysed using frequencies,
percentages, means, standard deviations, Ordinary Least Squares regression,
Garret ranking and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study revealed
that all the mushroom producers had received formal education and were on
average 48 years old. The mean annual intensity and degree of mushroom
commercialisation, respectively, were 75 percent and GHS 10202.29. Social
awareness, market incentives, and the economic value of mushrooms motivated
mushroom commercialisation, whereas institutional constraints and personal
weaknesses, value chain challenges and market uncertainty inhibited it. The key
Food Research Institute (FRI)’s contributions to mushroom commercialisation
were training on production technologies and spawn supply, with annual
income, economic value of mushroom, challenges in mushroom value chain and
hired labour determining the degree of mushroom commercialisation.
Stakeholders should encourage the youth to cultivate mushroom and enhance
training in production technologies, spawn production, establish a market hub,
raise mushroom awareness and strengthen the mushroom value chain.
