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Do NGOs and Development Agencies Contribute to Sustainability of Smallholder Soybean Farmers in Northern Ghana—A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Aniah Dominic Avea

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
    Farmer Training Centre, Box 763, Bolgatanga 038 20, Ghana)

  • Jing Zhu

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
    China Centre for Food Security, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Xu Tian

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
    China Centre for Food Security, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Tomas Baležentis

    (Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics, V. Kudirkos g. 18-2, LT-03105 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Tianxiang Li

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • Michael Rickaille

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

  • William Funsani

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China)

Abstract

NGOs and development agencies have a conspicuous presence in facilitating capacity building, access to production resources and markets. Capacity building by NGOs and development agencies is expected to contribute to farm efficiency and sustainability by promoting and enhancing fertilizer use as well as increasing soil fertilities. However, the influence of these factors on technical efficiency as an important dimension of sustainability has not been further explored in Ghana. This study therefore assesses the influence of NGOs on technical efficiency among smallholder soybean farmers by applying stochastic frontier analysis. The data collected from 349 smallholder soybean producers in the three northern regions of Ghana are employed for the analysis. Results show that the mean technical efficiency of soybean production is 0.885, indicating a growth potential of 11.5%. Land area, agro-chemicals and seeds contribute to production growth while labor is over used. We find that NGO facilitation as well as group membership influences technical efficiency. Furthermore, farmers facilitated by NGOs and development agencies are 4.4 p.p. more efficient than non-facilitated farmers. Our study therefore implies that production and efficiency can be improved by providing more services to farmer group members and sustainable interventions from NGOs and social programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Aniah Dominic Avea & Jing Zhu & Xu Tian & Tomas Baležentis & Tianxiang Li & Michael Rickaille & William Funsani, 2016. "Do NGOs and Development Agencies Contribute to Sustainability of Smallholder Soybean Farmers in Northern Ghana—A Stochastic Production Frontier Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:5:p:465-:d:69749
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jianxu Liu & Sanzidur Rahman & Songsak Sriboonchitta & Aree Wiboonpongse, 2017. "Enhancing Productivity and Resource Conservation by Eliminating Inefficiency of Thai Rice Farmers: A Zero Inefficiency Stochastic Frontier Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Hai-Dang Nguyen & Thanh Ngo & Tu DQ Le & Huong Ho & Hai T.H. Nguyen, 2019. "The Role of Knowledge in Sustainable Agriculture: Evidence from Rice Farms’ Technical Efficiency in Hanoi, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-10, April.

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