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Cost implications of agricultural land degradation in Ghana

Author

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  • Diao, Xinshen
  • Sarpong, Daniel B.

Abstract

"An economywide, multimarket model is constructed for Ghana and the effects of agricultural soil erosion on crop yields are explicitly modeled at the subnational regional level for eight main staple crops. The model is used to evaluate the aggregate economic costs of soil erosion by taking into account economywide linkages between production and consumption, across sectors and agricultural subsectors. To fill a gap in the literature regarding economic cost analysis of soil erosion, this paper also analyzes the poverty implications of land degradation. The model predicts that land degradation reduces agricultural income in Ghana by a total of US$4.2 billion over the period 2006–2015, which is approximately five percent of total agricultural GDP in these ten years. The effect of soil loss on poverty is also significant at the national level, equivalent to a 5.4 percentage point increase in the poverty rate in 2015 compared to the case of no soil loss. Moreover, soil loss causes a slowing of poverty reduction over time in the three northern regions, which currently have the highest poverty rates in the country. Sustainable land management (SLM) is the key to reducing agricultural soil loss. The present findings indicate that through the adoption of conventional SLM practices, the declining trend in land productivity can be reversed, and that use of a combination of conventional and modern SLM practices would generate an aggregate economic benefit of US$6.4 billion over the period 2006–2015. SLM practices would therefore significantly reduce poverty in Ghana, particularly in the three northern regions." Authors' Abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Diao, Xinshen & Sarpong, Daniel B., 2007. "Cost implications of agricultural land degradation in Ghana," IFPRI discussion papers 698, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
  • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:698
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alfsen, Knut H. & Bye, Torstein & Glomsrød, Solveig & Wiig, Henrik, 1997. "Soil degradation and economic development in Ghana," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 2(2), pages 119-143, May.
    2. Bojo, Jan, 1996. "The costs of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 161-173, February.
    3. Drechsel, P. & Gyiele, L. A., 1999. "The economic assessment of soil nutrient depletion: Analytical issues for framework development," IWMI Books, Reports H029216, International Water Management Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adam, Baba & Abdulai, Awudu, 2022. "Heterogeneity in the Impact of Conservation Agriculture Practices on Farm Performance and Inorganic Fertilizer Use in Ghana," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 47(2), May.
    2. Kleemann, Linda & Abdulai, Awudu, 2012. "Organic certification, agro-ecological practices and return on investment: Farm level evidence from Ghana," Kiel Working Papers 1816, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    3. Kleemann, Linda & Abdulai, Awudu, 2013. "Organic certification, agro-ecological practices and return on investment: Evidence from pineapple producers in Ghana," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 330-341.

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    Keywords

    Land degradation; Costs; Agricultural soil loss; Economywide modeling; Modeling cost of land degradation;
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