Abstract:
This study was carried out in Northern Ghana with the objective of assessing the sustainability1 of five maize-based cropping systems in the area. The cropping systems are maize-cowpea rotation, maize-cowpea relay intercropping, maize-cowpea mixed intercropping,sole maize continuously cropped and maize-sorghum-groundnuts mixed intercropping. The study also sought to establish any variability in the cropping systems of Northern Ghana, strategies adopted by farmers to increase crop yield as well as the cost-effectiveness of the strategies adopted.
To achieve the objectives above information on existing cropping systems was
obtained through a structured questionnaire interview with 60 farmers selected from 6 villages
(Kpongu and Sing in the Upper West region, Wiaga and Dullugu in the Upper East region and
Woribogu and Cheshegu in the Northern region). Data on crop yields and quantities of inputs
were obtained from records of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) while prices
of inputs and crop products were obtained from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Policy
Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Department's statistics. Existing cropping systems were
compared to those found in the literature to establish the variability of cropping systems in the
study area. Strategies adopted by farmers to increase crop yield were also established from the
structured interviews. Partial budget anaysis was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of
strategies adopted by farmers to increase crop yields while Total Factor Productivity (TFP)
indices were calculated to assess the long run sustainability of the cropping systems under
consideration.
Results of the study indicate that cropping systems in Northern Ghana van' across
locations. The results also reveal that strategies adopted by farmers to increase crop yields are
cost-effective in the short run. However, in the long run three out of the five cropping systems
under study are not sustainable when natural resource flows (the level of soil nitrogen) are
considered. Without considering natural resource flows, none of the systems was found to be
sustainable. In order to achieve sustainable crop production, bullock traction should be used
for land preparation to reduce labour requirements. There should be appropriate intercropping
of cereals and legumes as well as rotation of cereals with legumes. Extension education should
be improved mainly through radio broadcast in local languages. Through radio broadcast
farmers that cannot be reached during farm or home visits can benefit from extension
education.
