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Young people’s perspectives on farming in Ghana: a Q study

Author

Listed:
  • James Sumberg

    (Institute of Development Studies (IDS))

  • Thomas Yeboah

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Justin Flynn

    (Institute of Development Studies (IDS))

  • Nana Akua Anyidoho

    (University of Ghana)

Abstract

An emerging orthodoxy suggests that agriculture is the key to addressing the youth employment challenge in Africa. The analysis that informs this orthodoxy identifies a number of persistent barriers to increased productivity; and the programmes that work to get young people engaged with agriculture make assumptions about the young people’s interests and behaviours. In this paper we report results from a study with secondary students in Ghana using Q Methodology. The objective was to determine to what degree the students’ perspectives were aligned with the main tenants of the emerging orthodoxy. Results show that different perspectives on the two questions (What explains young people’s attitude toward farming? What should be done about young people and farming?) can be identified. There are a number of points of convergence between the students’ perspectives and the new orthodoxy. However, two important points of divergence were also identified, and the impications of these are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • James Sumberg & Thomas Yeboah & Justin Flynn & Nana Akua Anyidoho, 2017. "Young people’s perspectives on farming in Ghana: a Q study," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(1), pages 151-161, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:9:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s12571-016-0646-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-016-0646-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Kumeh, Eric Mensah & Omulo, Godfrey, 2019. "Youth’s access to agricultural land in Sub-Saharan Africa: A missing link in the global land grabbing discourse," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Vincent R. Nyirenda & Bimo A. Nkhata & Oscar Tembo & Susan Siamundele, 2018. "Elephant Crop Damage: Subsistence Farmers’ Social Vulnerability, Livelihood Sustainability and Elephant Conservation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
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    5. Katie LaRue & Thomas Daum & Kai Mausch & Dave Harris, 2021. "Who Wants to Farm? Answers Depend on How You Ask: A Case Study on Youth Aspirations in Kenya," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(4), pages 885-909, August.
    6. Rosa Maria Fanelli, 2023. "Barriers and Drivers Underpinning Newcomers in Agriculture: Evidence from Italian Census Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    7. Frederick Amon-Armah & Nana Akua Anyidoho & Isaac Alvin Amoah & Sander Muilerman, 2023. "A Typology of Young Cocoa Farmers: Attitudes, Motivations and Aspirations," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(4), pages 770-793, August.
    8. Federica Consentino & Gabriella Vindigni & Daniela Spina & Clara Monaco & Iuri Peri, 2023. "An Agricultural Career through the Lens of Young People," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    9. Wendy Geza & Mjabuliseni Ngidi & Temitope Ojo & Adetoso Adebiyi Adetoro & Rob Slotow & Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi, 2021. "Youth Participation in Agriculture: A Scoping Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    10. Rexford Akrong & Stephen G. Mbogoh & Patrick Irungu, 2020. "Youth agripreneurship in the horticultural value‐chain: The case of small‐scale mango farmers in Southern Ghana," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 32(S1), pages 68-77, November.

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