Baseline survey of city vegetable gardening in Greater Accra

Abstract

This research work sought to document the profile of vegetable producers in Accra city gardens, study the state of vegetable production in the city gardens and identify the strengths, constraints and the opportunities for interventions of the city vegetable gardening industry. The Participatory Rapid Rural Appraisal approach was used in the survey in addition to the administration of a structured questionnaire. Parameters considered in the design included bio data of operators and major production and post production factors. Individuals and groups were interviewed from ten selected communities. In all sixty three persons and groups were interviewed Results from the survey showed that the industry offered employment and income generation opportunities to low level illiterate and semi literate urban male youth between the ages of 21 and 40 years. It also provided a large proportion of the city`s vegetable needs. The industry also satisfied a real need as a major source of fresh exotic vegetables for many expatriate and-middle income households as well as the mushrooming fast food industries and restaurants in the city. The respondents felt that for the majority of the population the consumption of such vegetables was very low or non-existent and needed to be promoted The sector was beset with a number of challenges, the major ones being i. Absence of usufruct rights that militates against proper land management and long-term security. ii. Low education and poor information delivery systems for the practitioners, the majority of whom are illiterate or have only the basic education.iii. The use of poor quality/contaminated water for irrigation that poses a real health hazard for both the producers and consumers. iv. Even though a few of the growers have formed associations of sorts, there are organizational and management gaps that require interventions'!t is recommended that the Southern Zone of the Ghana Institute of Horticulture (Gh.1. H.), within whose domain of operations these growers fall should provide leadership in the planning and organization of training sessions for these growers. in so doing the concerns and suggestions given by the growers should be taken into account so that the Gh. 1. H. would have their full participation