Abstract:
The study investigated access to agricultural production resources and its effect
on the household food security of smallholder women farmers in the Techiman
Municipality and Offinso North District of Ghana. The study was a descriptive
correlation research. A validated interview schedule was used to solicit primary
data from three hundred (300) women farmers. Data were analyzed using
univariate and parametric statistics. The major findings were that, farmers’
level of access to agricultural production was in the “low access” and
“moderate access” categories for Offinso North District and Techiman
Municipality respectively which was statistically insignificant.
A statistically insignificant differences in maize yield were observed for
respondents in the both study areas. Respondents contributed a percentage of
their maize yield to their household with 20-29 percent bracket recording the
highest. Respondent’s food security status lied on a continuum from “very
low” to “high” food security status with only 2.3 percent within the “very low”
food security category. A statistically positive relationship was observed
between level of access to agricultural production resources and the household
food security status of respondents. The most predominant coping strategy
adopted by respondents to meet their household food security needs were the
production and sale of crops.
The study recommends to the Department of Agriculture and NGOs working in
the Offinso North District and Techiman Municipality, to implement
programmes that targets the provision of women farmers with agricultural
production resources such as fertilizers, pesticides, improved seeds, tractor
services, extension services, weedicides, hired labour and land.
