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Effects of contract farming on diets and nutrition in Ghana

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  • Bethelhem Legesse Debela
  • Anette Ruml
  • Matin Qaim

Abstract

Contract farming gained importance in many developing countries. While effects of contracting on smallholder farmers' incomes were analyzed in previous studies, diet and nutrition effects are not yet well understood. Here, we examine the effects of contract farming on dietary diversity and child anthropometrics, using survey data from the palm oil sector in Ghana. Contracting improves smallholder nutrition, but the effects vary by contract type. We distinguish between marketing contracts and resource‐providing contracts that affect household labor use and gender roles differently. For both contract types, contracting female farmers has larger positive child nutrition effects than contracting male farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Bethelhem Legesse Debela & Anette Ruml & Matin Qaim, 2022. "Effects of contract farming on diets and nutrition in Ghana," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(2), pages 911-929, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:44:y:2022:i:2:p:911-929
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13204
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    Cited by:

    1. Melaku, Astewale Bimr & Qaim, Matin & Debela, Bethelhem Legesse, 2024. "Maternal employment in high-value agriculture and child nutrition: Evidence from the Ethiopian cut-flower industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    2. Hill, Daniel & Gregg, Daniel & Baker, Derek, 2025. "Trading off inclusion, value, and scale within smallholder targeted value chains," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Wanglin Ma & Puneet Vatsa & Hongyun Zheng & Yanzhi Guo, 2022. "Does online food shopping boost dietary diversity? Application of an endogenous switching model with a count outcome variable," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Ayeduvor Selorm & D. B. S. Sarpong & Irene S. Egyir & Akwasi Mensah Bonsu & Henry An, 2023. "Does contract farming affect technical efficiency? Evidence from soybean farmers in Northern Ghana," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    5. repec:ags:aaea22:335848 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Melaku, Astewale Bimr & Qaim, Matin & Debela, Bethelhem Legesse, 2024. "Maternal employment in high-value agriculture and child nutrition: Evidence from the Ethiopian cut-flower industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Wanglin Ma & Awal Abdul‐Rahaman & Gazali Issahaku, 2023. "Welfare implications of participating in agri‐value chains among vegetable farmers in Northern Ghana," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(3), pages 793-811, July.

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