Participation of women farmers in agroforestry practices in the Jaman South Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Despite the key roles of women in agroforestry systems, their contributions usually go unnoticed in male – dominated societies. This study was conducted in the Jaman South Municipality of Ghana to examine the forms and levels of women’s participation in agroforestry systems. The study used a concurrent mixed method design to collect data from 204 women farmers. It employed Agarwal’s typology of participation to describe the forms of women’s participation. The findings revealed that majority (85.3%) of the women farmers were active in the practice of agroforestry. Scattered trees on farmlands, alley cropping, taungya, and home-gardens were the main forms of agroforestry being practiced by the women farmers. Their participation was high in all farm management activities, except in the application of agro-chemicals and spraying of crops. The forms of women participation in agroforestry were found to conform to all the stages of Agarwal’s typology of participation. Lack of extension programmes and multiple domestic responsibilities were the main constraints to their participation in agroforestry practices. The study recommends training of women to volunteer as extension officers to enhance extension services delivery.

Keywords: Alley Cropping, Farmers, Farm Management, Female, Household, Taungya, Participation