Food crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Food crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana. Jacob Adam TagoeFood crop diversification and economic efficiency of smallholder farmers: implications for improving food security in Okere district in the Eastern Region, Ghana.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyse food crop diversification and economic efficiency, and their influences on household food security in the Okere District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Primary data were collected from 330 food crop farming households using a structured interview schedule. The multistage sampling technique was employed to select 9 communities for the study. Several analytical tools including the Tobit model, binary logistic regression, Herfindahl index, data envelopment analyses, and endogenous treatment effect model were used. The findings revealed that plantain, cassava, and maize dominate in the study area more than the other crops. The mean value based on the extent of food crop diversification was 0.55. Again, the determinant of food crop diversification and economic efficiency showed that age, household size, extension service, access to credit, off-farm activities, land size owned, and experience of the farmer significantly influence food crop diversification and economic efficiency. Furthermore, the results from the household food insecurity scale pointed out that just a little over a quarter of the farmers were food secure whiles 74% were food insecure. Finally, the results revealed that food crop diversification and economic efficiency as well as socio-demographic factors influence household food security status. The study recommends that policies to promote food crop diversification should focus on encouraging farmers to increase the size of land cultivated. Monofood crop farmers should be encouraged to engage in food crop diversification since this reduces household food insecurity. Finally, credit opportunities from banks should be made available for farmers to acquire inputs that will help them to save time and be more efficient in their food crop production.