This study is about the role of agricultural diversification as one of the mechanisms for managing household food security and poverty in developing economies. Using the context of Ghana, we examined the status of smallholder farmers and present empirical evidence to support the development of effective strategies that enhance diversified farming systems. We obtained diversification indices for crops, livestock and crop-livestock farming systems.

Our study found that the decision of farmers to diversify and the extent of diversification are distinct decisions affected by different sets of factors, which varies across the three types of farming systems. We also found that for diversification to achieve the desired benefits, policy and development agencies need to consider enhancing farmers’ access to information, capacity building and improved institutional and infrastructural support. This requires including diversified systems related extension advice and the supply of information to farmers in areas where diversified farming systems are feasible. Providing training to farmers on the most productive cost-effective output combinations has the potential to eliminate the perceived risks associated with the production of these combinations.

Farmers’ access to tillage equipment and fertiliser also needs to be improved through effective monitoring and maintenance of implements. In addition, partnering with interested private investors may be helpful in improving farmers’ access to tillage equipment. The fertiliser subsidy programme, in which coupons are provided to farmers to purchase fertilisers at subsidized prices, needs to be implemented effectively to ensure timely availability within reasonable proximity.

The empirical results highlight the importance of diversification among smallholder farmers, as a risk mitigating approach and a poverty alleviation tool, not only in Ghana but in other parts of the developing world.

Asante, B.O., Villano, R.A., Patrick, I.W., Battese, G.B. (2017) Determinants of farm diversification in integrated crop-livestock farming systems in Ghana, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, pp. 1-19, doi: 10.1017/s1742170516000545