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\hypersetup{pdftitle={Economic and Constraint Analysis of Rice Production under the Participatory Varietal Selection Programme in Hohoe District of Ghana},pdfauthor={Justice Akpene Tambo, Daniel Bruce Sarpong},pdfsubject={Tropentag 2010: Abstract},pdfkeywords={Constraints, participatory varietal selection, profitability, rice},pdfpagemode=None,colorlinks=true}
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\parbox[b]{13.4cm}{\centering \large{\textbf{Tropentag, September 14-16, 2010, Zurich}}\\[1ex] \Large{``World Food System  ---\\A Contribution from Europe''\\[2ex]}}
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\Large{\textbf{Economic and Constraint Analysis of Rice Production under the Participatory Varietal Selection Programme in Hohoe District of Ghana\footnote{\textbf{Contact Address:} Justice Akpene Tambo, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Husumgade 51 4 Th 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark, \mbox{e-mail}: \email{tambojustice@yahoo.com}}\\[0.8ex]}}
\normalsize{\textsc{Justice Akpene Tambo$^{1}$, Daniel Bruce Sarpong$^{2}$}}
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\begin{itemize*}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{1}$University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Life Sciences, Denmark}}}
\item[]{\small{\textit{$^{2}$University of Ghana, Department of Agricultural Economics \& Agribusiness, Ghana}}}
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\index[author]{Tambo, Justice Akpene}
\index[author]{Sarpong, Daniel Bruce}
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\textbf{Abstract}
\begin{abstract}
\normalsize{
Rice is a staple food and constitutes a major part of the diet of many Ghanaians. The crop has seen a steady increase in demand and its growing importance is evident given its importance in strategic food security planning of Ghana. Much of this increase in demand is however satisfied by imports which have negative effects on the nation's balance of trade and foreign reserves. Ghana's inability to produce rice to self sufficiency levels is an indication of the presence of major constraints in the rice industry that requires urgent attention. Various studies have identified lack of inclusion of rice farmers in the selection of improved varieties introduced by breeders as an important constraint to adoption of improved cultivars and increased rice production in Ghana. The Rice Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) programme was therefore initiated in Ghana in 1997 with the objective of introducing improved rice cultivars to farmers in a participatory way to facilitate quick adoption. 







This paper aims at verifying whether producing rice released under PVS programme is profitable to warrant further development and also identify some of the constraints militating against increased production. The study uses data collected from 96 farmers randomly selected from 12 rice communities in the Hohoe District of Ghana for the 2002 to 2005 production seasons.  The results of the study indicates an average net present value of 4,839,249 cedis (USD 531.28) and a benefit cost ratio of 2.02 from an acre of PVS rice production. Lack of credit was found to be the major constraint to the production of the PVS rice varieties. The study concludes that introducing improved rice varieties in a participatory way, as being done by the PVS programme will be desirable in increasing rice output and profits of farmers and hence increase local rice production. Also, measures to provide credit to rice farmers is needed to facilitate and encourage increased local production of rice.



}

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\noindent \textbf{Keywords:} Constraints, participatory varietal selection, profitability, rice
\index[key]{Constraints}
\index[key]{Participatory!varietal selection}
\index[key]{profitability}
\index[key]{rice}
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