Abstract:
Land use change particularly in peri-urban areas has gained attention in recent times. This phenomenon can lead to loss of land, contributing to loss of jobs and livelihoods in peri-urban areas. In Abokobi, a peri-urban area in the Ga-East municipality, there is increasing change in use of lands from agricultural land use to use of land for residential purposes. This has contributed to rapid loss of farm lands causing unemployment and undesired livelihood outcome to households within these areas. The literature in Ghana shows that there has been little studies on the implication of land loss on households’ livelihoods. This thesis thus assesses the relationship between loss of farmland and agricultural production and the implication of this for livelihoods using the case study of peri-urban Abokobi.
Using data from 150 selected farm households, regression models (multiple linear regression and logit regression) were employed to examine the livelihood implication of loss of farmland.
It was found that there was a significant decrease in crop output for land losing households than non-land losing households. Farmland loss did not exert a statistically significant negative effect on household welfare. Contrary to what the literature suggests, this study found that a crop-only livelihood strategy was not inferior to more diversified strategies. The study concludes that loss of land may not always be a negative phenomenon but could enable households to combine farm activities with non-farm activities to better improve upon their livelihoods. Institutions have a critical role to play in helping households improve upon their livelihoods even when faced with land loss.