STRUCTURE OF FARMER BASED ORGANISATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN PERI-URBAN TAMALE IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study examined the role of farmer-based organizations (FBOs) in agricultural development in peri-urban Tamale in the Northern Region of Ghana. The study used the mixed method for the research. Both primary and secondary data were collected. It used a questionnaire and an interview guide with a sample size of 125 in the gathering of data and generating tables through analysis of data. The findings revealed that 97.1 percent of FBOs operating in Tamale Metropolis are officially registered as business entities in Ghana. It also found out that eight seven-point six percent of these establishments (FBOs) were initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) or Government. Furthermore, the study revealed that seventy-eight-point one percent of the FBOs members are able to influence the selling price of their produce, eight six-point seven percent of the FBOs members are able to meet the contractual requirements of their customers in terms of quality and quantity demanded. Findings from the study further revealed that sixteen-point two percent of the respondents indicated that they lack training on leadership and management, fourteen-point three percent of the respondents indicated that they lack guaranteed market for their farm produce, thirteen-point three percent of the respondents indicated that they lack improved seed for farming, twelfth point four percent of the respondents indicated that they lack tractor services for farming. The study recommended that MoFA officials should be well resourced, additionally credit institutions need to well nurtured relationship with FBOs provide guaranteed markets for their produce, intensive and frequent training should be provided to FBOs MoFA, input supply centres should be created in the metropolis, and FBOs should be provided with efficient irrigation facilities by the government.