Amos Mensah

• PhD (Dr. Sc. Agr.) Agricultural Economics and Rural Development Economics
• Senior Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Artificial Hand Pollination (AHP) technology has demonstrated significant potential to enhance cocoa productivity and alleviate poverty among cocoa farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, a government-sponsored AHP program implemented from 2017 to 2021 led to notable yield increases; however, adoption levels among cocoa farmers remain suboptimal....

Keywords: economic implication of food waste | food recycling | food security | food waste management | repurposing and reuse | SDG 12.3 ABSTRACT Food waste presents a significant challenge to sustainable development, with fast-food enterprises playing a major role in this issue. This study explores the complexities of food waste management among f...

This study examines the commercial potential and limitations of rabbit production in Ghana, aiming to address the increasing demand for meat protein in the country. Despite its potential, rabbit farming has received insufficient attention due to a lack of empirical evidence for investment decisions. Data was collected from rabbit farmers in the Ash...

This study examines the commercial potential and limitations of rabbit production in Ghana, aiming to address the increasing demand for meat protein in the country. Despite its potential, rabbit farming has received insufficient attention due to a lack of empirical evidence for investment decisions. Data was collected from rabbit farmers in the...

The paper examines the effect of shade management practices on cocoa seedling mortality. It investigates farmer awareness and adoption of the recommended shade practices and its influence on reducing cocoa seedling mortality. The constraints facing cocoa farmers in adopting the recommended shade management practices were also examined. Using data c...

The heightened food insecurity in urban settings has rekindled the debate over the promotion of urban agriculture (UA) as a sustainable alternative food supply source across the globe. This study, therefore, examines the determinants of urban residents’ decisions to engage in UA and their choice of agriculture practices. Cross-sectional data was so...

Purpose: This research investigates safety practice compliance among urban vegetable farmers in Ghana's Ashanti Region and its implications for the environment, farmers' health, and consumer safety.Design/methodology/approach: An empirical approach was adopted, utilizing field survey data from 387 urban vegetable farmers in key vegetable-producing...

Since the declaration of the fall armyworm (FAW) pandemic across sub-Saharan Africa in 2016, the polyphagous insect has threatened food security and livelihoods in the sub-region, particularly among farmers producing maize for sustenance. To mitigate the worm infestation, synthetic insecticides are used as a promising solution to effectively manage...

Despite the fact that adhering to cocoa quality management practices (QMPs) is crucial to satisfy consumer food safety standards and receive premium cocoa pricing, evidence of cocoa farmers' compliance with these recommended QMPs is scanty in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent and antecedents of farmers' compliance with six Q...

Maize is a vital staple food crop in Ghana, providing nutrition and income for millions of farm households. However, postharvest losses pose a significant threat to the maize value chain, limiting its impact on livelihoods. Besides, there are few empirical studies that examine the socioeconomic and farm-level factors that influence maize postharves...

p>The livestock subsector especially broiler production plays a significant role in the livelihood and food security in Ghana. Several researchers in developing nations have employed value chain methodologies to investigate the linkages and the interactions of the various actors in the poultry sector. However, none of these studies comprehensively...

This paper evaluates the impact of the adoption of cocoa hand pollination (CHP) on the welfare of smallholder cocoa producers. Using data collected from 1200 cocoa farmers in Huni Valley and Kejebril districts of Ghana, we employed endogenous switching regression, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment techniques to a...

Poultry production has significant potential to reduce protein deficiency, food insecurity and poverty in Ghana. However, limited vertical integration and high cost of production in the sector have stifled growth and exposed poultry farms in the country to many risks, leading to poor business performance. This study uses cross-sectional data from 1...

The study analysed the factors influencing profit and its efficiency for smallholder maize farmers in Ghana. The data used was collected from 576 maize farmers in Ghana's four main agro ecological zones using structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the stochastic frontier translog profit function were the methods of analysis employed....

Understanding the gender dimension of climate change perception and choice of adaptation strategies is crucial for policy recommendations that foster the development and integration of gender-responsive climate-smart agricultural interventions into agricultural development programs. This study determined the differences in the perception and choice...

This study examines the impacts of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) on livelihood assets using a representative data from individuals in major mining communities as well as non-mining neighbourhood areas in southern Ghana. It has applied Propensity Score Matching to investigate how participating in ASM affects the natural, physical, human, social...

Edible insects are increasingly recognised as a source of nutritional security, poverty reduction and overall household wellbeing, particularly in rural sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, for instance, edible insects such as the African palm weevil larvae are integral part of traditional dishes, which are widely consumed among different strata of the Gh...

Poultry production has significant potential to reduce protein deficiency, food insecurity and poverty in Ghana. However, limited vertical integration and high cost of production in the sector have stifled growth and exposed poultry farms in the country to many risks, leading to poor business performance. This study uses cross-sectional data from 1...

Purpose The paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. It assesses both the revenue and cost implication of the adopted technology on farmers’ welfare. The study aims to expand the domain of farm investment assessment analysis by including a broader range of production outcome indicators than is normally f...

Purpose The paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. It assesses both the revenue and cost implication of the adopted technology on farmers' welfare. The study aims to expand the domain of farm investment assessment analysis by including a broader range of production outcome indicators than is normally fo...

The economic importance of soybean towards poverty alleviation and food security is gaining wider popularity and common acceptance among smallholder farmers in sub-Sahara Africa, especially in Ghana. Commercial soybean cultivation is relatively new in Ghana; hence it has recently benefited from several productivities enhancing innovation/technologi...

The economic importance of soybean towards poverty alleviation and food security is gaining wider popularity and common acceptance among smallholder farmers in sub-Sahara Africa, especially in Ghana. Commercial soybean cultivation is relatively new in Ghana; hence it has recently benefited from several productivities enhancing innovation/technologi...

Abstract In this study, we analysed the profit efficiency of Ghanaian maize farmers using data collected from 576 farmers in four agro ecological zones of Ghana. The stochastic frontier translog profit function was the main method of analysis. We find that maize productionin Ghana is profitable but profitability will be adversely affected if prices...

This study examines the response of the Ghanaian pineapple production sector to the 2004/05 crisis where a swift shift of international market demand from the traditional smooth cayenne and sugar loaf variety to the MD2 variety adversely affected both the production and export performance of the entire industry. In this study, we quantified the pro...

The banana sector makes a significant contribution to the Ghanaian economy in terms of employment, fiscal revenue and foreign exchange. However, decreasing productivity in the sector, coupled with price volatility, has led to a sharp decline in output. The strong export-oriented nature of the sector requires continuous improvement in productivity t...

Mango production and exports in Ghana have been increasingly volatile over the past years. After the successful take-off of the sector in the early 2000s, output and international market share decreased. In this study, the reasons for the lacklustre performance on the production side are considered using cross-country survey data from Ghana. In par...

This paper provide a new empirical insights to an important sub-sector of Ghana’s agriculture, the fruit crop industry. Additionally the study has broader relevance in the regional context since the policy implications are likely relevant for neighbouring countries with similar socioeconomic and production structures.