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Small-Scale Farming Systems in Ghana1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2012

George Benneh
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Extract

Although classification of farming systems has been an important theme in the fields of agricultural geography and agricultural economics, there appear to have been no agreed criteria upon which a typology should be made (Grigg, 1969). The problem seems quite intractable as far as most of the developing countries of the tropics are concerned, because lack of statistical data on agriculture has made it impossible for the quantifiable criteria used by agricultural geographers in the advanced countries to be applied. It is therefore not surprising that ‘the notion that shifting cultivation is simple and varies little from area to area and continent to continent’ runs through much of the literature on tropical agriculture. This oversimplified picture of traditional agriculture in the tropics was drawn by earlier writers (Gourou, 1965) who established the framework for a regional differentiation of agriculture. It disregards the changes which have been taking place as a result of increased population pressure on available land, the introduction of cash crops, and the impact of agricultural innovations.

Résumé

ESSAI DE CLASSIFICATION DE SYSTÈMES D'EXPLOITATION AGRICOLE AU GHANA

Le problème de la classification des systèmes d'exploitation a retenu l'attention des géographes et des économistes agricoles dans les dernières décennies. Dans de nombreux pays tropicaux en voie de développement, le manque de données statistiques n'a pas permis d'appliquer les critères utilisés pour les classifications des activités agricoles dans les pays développés. La généralisation bien connue, affirmant que tous les fermiers d'Afrique tropicale pratiquent une culture itinérante, persiste même si des changements sont survenus dans certaines régions, résultant de l'introduction de la vente de récoltes sur pied, de la pression démographique et de l'impact des innovations agricoles.

Cet article tente de classer un petit échantillon des systèmes d'exploitation au Ghana en se référant principalement aux méthodes de maintien de la fertilité. On distingue deux types principaux d'exploitation: le système de mise en jachère et le système de culture permanente. Ils se subdivisent selon les modes de tenure foncière qui déterminent en grande partie les types de champs et la densité de l'agriculture en termes de pouvoir du capital. La combinaison d'un système permanent de culture avec la mise en jachère dans certaines parties du Nord du Ghana permet de déterminer une зème catégorie, un système combiné d'exploitation. Les résultats des études des différents systèmes d'exploitation agricole menées par l'auteur sont ensuite discutés.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , April 1973 , pp. 134 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1973

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References

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