The Present Status of Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Farming Enterprise in Ghana: The Case of Keta Municipality

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the present status of the shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) farming enterprise in Ghana. The Keta Municipality was selected as the study area because it is a major shallot growing area within the dry coastal equatorial climate with an average annual rainfall of less than 1000 mm. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study while interview schedules were used for data collection on characteristics of shallot farmers. The data were analysed with SPSS version 21 using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. The study shows that a large majority (67%) of shallot farmers were males whilst 33% were females. Mono‐cropping is the type of farming system used by the farmers with organic and inorganic fertilizers as the main source of plant nutrients. To attract more farmers into shallot farming in Ghana, it is important that, Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders including government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should help create the enabling environment that will ensure that the menace of pests and diseases are minimized and prices of shallot are regulated. The production of shallot is considered to be lucrative but fluctuating local market prices, pests, diseases, and lack of capital are the major limitations of the enterprise.