Migrant versus indigenous farmers. An analysis of factors affecting agricultural land use in the transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana, 1984-2000

Abstract

The transitional agro-ecological zone of Ghana (10,630 km2) is the leading producer of grains, cereals and tubers. Located between the resource-endowed south and the impoverished north, it has attracted seasonal and permanent farm migrants mainly from northern Ghana, who now live side by side with the indigenous people. This paper examines the differences that exist between these groups with regard to factors affecting agricultural land use between 1984 and 2000. It utilizes information from a household survey undertaken in February 2002 among 786 farmers in 240 households in 12 communities. Results show that migrants had almost three times more cropped area, earned more from the sale of farm products, were more affluent, used more mechanized farming practices, and had extended into more agricultural lands compared to indigenous people. Furthermore, affluence predicted agricultural land use for both migrants and indigenous farmers in 1984, and household size and fallow period predicted agricultural land use for migrant and indigenous farmers respectively. In 2000, household size, land tenure arrangement, distance to farthest farm and household educational level predicted agricultural land use among migrants, while affluence, on-farm income, household size and tractor use predicted agricultural land use among indigenous farmers.