2024-03-28T11:45:37+01:00 https://library.wur.nl/oai
oai:library.wur.nl:wurpubs/378821 2024-01-22 edurep openaire public
Kudadjie-Freeman, C. Richards, P. Struik, P.C. External research report Unlocking the potential of contract farming: lessons from Ghana 2008 This paper analyses sorghum contract farming in north-east Ghana in order to explore ways of making such arrangements viable for small farmers. The analysis draws on the convergence of sciences approach, which sees both science and social relations (interactions among the relevant stakeholders) as important for developing small farmer-relevant agricultural innovations (technology, procedures, new forms of organisation). The study reveals that the failure and problems encountered in this particular contracting scheme were both technical and institutional. The technical issues were a combination of pest problems, the environment and the sorghum variety chosen. The institutional issues involved the contractual arrangements and relations between the contracting parties. The authors argue that if contracts are to be fair, they must allow for compensation, contingencies and production risks. But scientific knowledge is required in order to adequately incorporate these elements. en IIED application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/unlocking-the-potential-of-contract-farming-lessons-from-ghana https://edepot.wur.nl/5369 agricultural development contract farming farmers farmers' associations farmers' knowledge ghana innovation adoption innovations knowledge small farms sorghum west africa boeren boerenorganisaties contractlandbouw ghana innovatie adoptie innovaties kennis kennis van boeren kleine landbouwbedrijven landbouwontwikkeling sorghum west-afrika Wageningen University & Research