Rice Yields in Ghana:Macro-level response and some prescriptions

International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research Vol.1 (9), pp. 270-276, November 2013
Available online at http://www.journalissues.org/journals-home.php?id=1
© 2013 Journal Issues
ISSN 2350-1561

Original Research Paper

Rice yields in Ghana: Macro-level response and some prescriptions Accepted 14 October,2013

Boansi David
Center for Development
Research,
Department of Economic and
Technological Change,
University of Bonn, Germany.
Author
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With local rice production lagging well behind demand as a result of low productivity of farmers’ fields, this study analyzed the response of rice yields in Ghana using national level data. Yield of rice was found to increase with producer price of rice and labor availability. It however decreased with increases in harvested area and price of urea fertilizer due to fertility issues, producer price of maize due to influences from resource allocation, and with nominal rate of assistance due to secondary distortions on input prices. To increase and sustain rice yields, future rice policy measures should couple area expansion with vital intensification measures to help mitigate the adverse impact from sole expansion of area and should as well ensure appropriate transmission of prices with least distortion. Measures should as well be devised to reduce labor shortages. In improving the fertility of farmers’ fields, the current fertilizer subsidy structure should be improved upon and measures put in place to improve farmers access to credit as this is a vital issue that needs addressing to ensure appropriate response of farmers to future price and non-price incentives.
Key words: Credit access, fertilizer subsidy structure, input prices, intensification

INTRODUCTION
Information about response of rice yields to changes in vital inputs of production allows for the devising and implementation of appropriate rice policy measures.

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