Abstract
While Ghana’s population is growing at a faster rate, the resources needed to maintain the population is getting depleted, forest are becoming depleted through agricultural activities and bushfires, fuel wood is being over harvested, game stock is depleted in the forest and, water resources are being exhausted as demand increases, the time to call for sustainability can never be pushed forward any longer, hence the need for immediate intervention.
It is in the light of the above that the livelihood context of the fringe committees of the Goaso Forest District was being researched into by an interdisciplinary student project of Tropenbos International Ghana in order to
• identify the various livelihood options • analyze the major identified livelihood strategies • determine alternative livelihood options, and to • recommend interventions that improve sustainable livelihood outcomes.
Prior to the fieldwork a reconnaissance survey was conducted to confirm, update, modify or/and deny the information obtain from the secondary data. In all two communities (Akrodie, Asumura) were selected. Questionnaire administration, observation, and informal interactions were the research methods used to obtain the entire data. In all 52 and 58 questionnaires were administered in Asumura and Akrodie, respectively. Individuals as well as focus group discussions were employed to solicit more information. NGOs (RUDEYA, RIMDA), the District Assembly, chiefs and community heads, assembly members and above all the inhabitants of the fore mentioned communities were focused. The data obtained within a period of four weeks were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive statistics tools and chi-square.
Craft making, farming, civil and public services, trading, timber industry were identified as the major livelihood options in the Goaso Forest District, with the farming (66.4%) been the highest followed by trading (32.2%). Cash crops (cocoa, oil palm), Vegetables (Tomato, pepper), and food crops of which plantain was the highest were observed. Some potential resources were also identified which upon further research can enhance the livelihoods outcomes of the people of the area.
It is in the light of the above that the livelihood context of the fringe committees of the Goaso Forest District was being researched into by an interdisciplinary student project of Tropenbos International Ghana in order to
• identify the various livelihood options • analyze the major identified livelihood strategies • determine alternative livelihood options, and to • recommend interventions that improve sustainable livelihood outcomes.
Prior to the fieldwork a reconnaissance survey was conducted to confirm, update, modify or/and deny the information obtain from the secondary data. In all two communities (Akrodie, Asumura) were selected. Questionnaire administration, observation, and informal interactions were the research methods used to obtain the entire data. In all 52 and 58 questionnaires were administered in Asumura and Akrodie, respectively. Individuals as well as focus group discussions were employed to solicit more information. NGOs (RUDEYA, RIMDA), the District Assembly, chiefs and community heads, assembly members and above all the inhabitants of the fore mentioned communities were focused. The data obtained within a period of four weeks were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive statistics tools and chi-square.
Craft making, farming, civil and public services, trading, timber industry were identified as the major livelihood options in the Goaso Forest District, with the farming (66.4%) been the highest followed by trading (32.2%). Cash crops (cocoa, oil palm), Vegetables (Tomato, pepper), and food crops of which plantain was the highest were observed. Some potential resources were also identified which upon further research can enhance the livelihoods outcomes of the people of the area.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Commissioning body | Tropenbos International |
| Number of pages | 50 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
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Aduse-Poku, K., Nyinaku, F., Atiase, V., Awuah, R., Owusu Mensah, E., Nyantakyi, D., ... Agyenim Boateng, B. (2003). Improving Rural Livelihoods within the the Context of Sustainable Development: A case Study of the Goaso Forest District.