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On the Move Livelihood Strategies in Northern Ghana

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  • Francesca Marchetta

    (CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - UdA - Université d'Auvergne - Clermont-Ferrand I - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

The households who live in the rural areas of Northern Ghana base their subsistence on natural resources, which are threatened by the progressive desertification and increased frequency of extreme weather events in the region. We draw on a field work and on extensive secondary data sources to analyze how the rural population successfully adapted its livelihood strategies to cope with the economic, institutional and environmental changes which occurred over the last two decades. The field work evidences significant differences across communities in the adaptation strategies, which depend closely on the available portfolio of assets. The analysis evidences serious concerns about the environmental consequences of some of the observed changes in livelihood strategies, strengthening the case for public policies aimed at promoting a sustainable development in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Marchetta, 2011. "On the Move Livelihood Strategies in Northern Ghana," Working Papers halshs-00591137, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-00591137
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00591137
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ellis, Frank, 2000. "Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198296966.
    2. Moser, Caroline O. N., 1998. "The asset vulnerability framework: Reassessing urban poverty reduction strategies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Joseph K. Assan & Cyril Caminade & Frances Obeng, 2009. "Environmental variability and vulnerable livelihoods: Minimising risks and optimising opportunities for poverty alleviation," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(3), pages 403-418.
    4. Frank Ellis, 2000. "The Determinants of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Developing Countries," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 289-302, May.
    5. Chambers, R. & Conway, G. R., 1991. "Sustainable rural livelihoods: Practical concepts for the 21st century," IWMI Books, Reports H032821, International Water Management Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Moomen, Abdul–Wadood & Dewan, Ashraf, 2016. "Analysis of spatial interactions between the Shea industry and mining sector activities in the emerging north-west gold province of Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 104-111.
    2. Nkegbe, Paul Kwame & Abu, Benjamin Musah & Haruna, Issahaku, 2016. "Food security in the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority Zone of Ghana: an ordered probit with household hunger scale approach," MPRA Paper 101605, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 07 Feb 2017.
    3. Francesca Marchetta, 2008. "Migration and non farm activities as income diversification strategies: the case of Northern Ghana," Working Papers - Economics wp2008_16.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
    4. Johnson, Nancy & Njuki, Jemimah & Waithanji, Elizabeth & Nhambeto, Marinho & Rogers, Martha & Kruger, Elizabeth Hutchinson, 2013. "The gendered impacts of agricultural asset transfer projects: Lessons from the Manica Smallholder Dairy Development Program," CAPRi working papers 115, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Eric Rega Christophe Bayala & Kwabena Owusu Asubonteng & Mirjam Ros-Tonen & Houria Djoudi & Freddie Sayi Siangulube & James Reed & Terry Sunderland, 2023. "Using Scenario Building and Participatory Mapping to Negotiate Conservation-Development Trade-Offs in Northern Ghana," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-29, February.
    6. John K.M Kuwornu & Moses Dumayiri, 2014. "Farm Households’ Livelihood Diversification into Agro-processing and Non-agro-processing Activities: Empirical Evidence from Ghana," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 6(4), pages 191-199.

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    Keywords

    Livelihood Strategies; agriculture; Non Farm Activities; Internal migration; sustainable development; Rural Areas;
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