THE KENAF FIBRE PLANT AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE TO THE NORTHERN RURAL DWELLERS IN GHANA - A STUDY IN KUMBUNGU DISTRICT

Abstract

Sustainable livelihood is a prime factor for rural dwellers in Ghana. To improve on the economic lives of these people, activities of economic significance within their domain have to be improved upon to generate more income for sustainable growth. A cross-sectional survey was employed in collecting data for the study. Six communities in the Kumbungu districts were surveyed to determine the socio-economic significance of the kenaf plant on their lives. The result revealed various uses of the plant and its important to these rural dwellers, but it also determined that, cultivation and significance is dwindling due to modern replacement of some of its end uses. The researchers identified that, the plant viability can be enhanced and lives of these rural dwellers improved further, if other end uses of the plants with its modern significance can be produced from the plants fibre in particular.