Comparative Analysis of the Profitability of On-Farm and Institutional Storage of Maize in the Ejura Sekyere-Dumase District of Ghana
Date
2004-12
Authors
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
The research was conducted during the minor season at Sekyere Dumase and Bonyon
towns and their environs in the Ejura Sekyere-Dumase District o f Ghana. The objective
of the research was to find out in comparative terms the profitability o f on-farm and
institutional storage o f maize.
The research also found out size and distributions of reasons why farmers/traders prefer
one storage system to other, ranked the identified constraints/problems that influence
preference for each storage system. The cost, total revenue and net revenue of storage
operations were estimated, and from this, the relative profitability was assessed.
Statistical analysis showed agreement between the rankings of the problems/constraints
o f the two storage systems. Pest infestation is the major constraint facing farmers/traders
who use the on-farm storage systems whereas transportation of maize to storage sites was
identified in the case of farmers/trader who used the institutional storage system. The
total cost for institutional storage was greater than that for the on-farm storage but there
was no significant difference between the total costs of the two systems. For the total
revenue and the net revenue, the institutional storage systems seem to be better that the
on-farm storage systems. However, statistically, there is no significant difference
between the two storage systems in terms of revenue and net revenue estimated.
Considering the findings as obtained from statistical analysis of data and visual
observations on the field, it is recommended that the institutional storage systems should
be expanded for more farmers/traders to store their produce in that:
-the use o f this facility has the potential of giving clean and uninfected grains,
-farmers/traders can store produce for a longer period to forestall shortage o f maize,
thereby enhancing food security in the country and the sub-region as a whole.
Description
Thesis (MA)- Uinversity of Ghana, 2004.