LIVELIHOODS IN THE KUMASI PERIURBAN INTERFACE (KPUI), ASHANTI REGION, GHANA
August 2005
Rudith King, KNUST, Kumasi Edlam Aberra, University of London, UK
Objective
To share research findings from a livelihoods project in the Kumasi PeriUrban Interface and encourage uptake by development partners and policy makers.
THE PROJECT
Three year livelihood project named “Who Can Help the Peri-urban Poor” by the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) in the Kumasi Peri-Urban Interface (KPUI), Ashanti Region Provided credit to try for the first time or on a new scale livelihood activities in 12 KPUI communities Aimed to also document lessons from the implementation process in order to generate new knowledge about peri urban livelihoods
The Project Communities
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly: Abrepo, Apatrapa, Atafoa, Duase Kwabre District : Maase, Swedru Bosomtwe Atwima Kwanwoma District: Ampabame II, Behenase, Esreso, Adagya, Asaago Ejisu Juabeng District : Okyerekrom
The Project Activities
(1) CROP FARMING (2) NON-FARM NATURAL RESOURCE BASED ACTIVITIES: Grasscutter, rabbit and snail rearing; mushroom production (3) PROCESSING and MARKETING: Alata soap making; petty trading
Significance of Findings
EVIDENCE shows that peri-urban livelihoods are threatened by urbanization YET it is a zone where actual knowledge about the changes in environment and livelihoods have not been fully explored CONSEQUENTLY there is a need for adequate planning focus for the peri-urban interface
Focus Areas of Presentation
Crop farming Trading Activities Gender and Livelihoods Location and Space
CROP FARMING IN THE KUMASI PERI-URBAN INTERFACE
Significance of Crop Farming
Crop farming is threatened by housing developments and small scale enterprises, but remains significant because of the following:
Traditional significance Low start up capital requirements Safety net to buffer shocks in non-farm livelihoods Source of consumable products, lower expenditure on food Greater urban demand for peri-urban agro-produce
Characteristics of Crop Farming
Crop farming declines with greater urbanisation of KPUI villages Evident shift from tree crop production to food crop cultivation Vegetable cultivation, both traditional and exotic are dominant (46.3%)
Cont’d
With greater urbanisation, vegetable cultivation increases whilst traditional food crop production declines Vegetable farmers better off: lower outstanding debt Farmers closer to Kumasi better off: lowest outstanding debt Intermediate farmers vulnerable: higher debts than both rural and urban parts of the KPUI
Cont’d
Choice of crops determined by Harvesting period: crops with shorter harvesting period preferred Urban market factors: vegetables preferred due to urban demand Amount of land available: vegetables more profitable on smaller plots compared to traditional crops
Cont’d
Farmers access land through family (but on the decline) sharecropping, renting (incur rising costs) Farmers cultivate valley bottoms (affected by pollution), building plots (insecure) farms away from village (absentee farmers)
Constraints in Crop Farming
Rapid sales of agricultural land for housing and small scale enterprise developments, often without compensation to farmers Rising costs of agricultural labour Seasonal gluts, market saturation and low prices
Cont’d
Water pollution, particularly threatens vegetable cultivation Vegetable cultivation ideal (high value, constant market demand, short harvesting periods) but high costs of pesticides is an entry barrier Traditional food crop cultivation less viable with greater urbanisation and rising costs of land
PETTY TRADING IN THE KUMASI PERI-URBAN INTERFACE
Characteristics of Trading
Majority of project beneficiaries (67%) opted for trading because it generates quick returns on a daily basis. This is is critical within a monetised urban economy Concentrated in urban and intermediate parts of KPUI, less dominant in rural parts Almost all traders were women, men were reluctant to participate
Cont’d
Hawking and selling on table tops are the most common marketing strategies Traders with more capital operate on a wholesale basis, those with lower capital retail their goods The choice of goods traded is determined by costs and availability of supplies amount of start up capital
Cont’d
Food items dominant (91%), most of which is derived from traditional food crops Uncooked food items most popular (53%) because of Lower start up capital Longer shelf life Non-food items have higher profit margin, but are not accessible to most traders due to higher start up capital requirements
Market Interaction of Traders
Kumasi market- buy supplies from wholesalers, most small scale traders with lower start up capital do this Rural suppliers- supplies of traditional food crops, requires higher capital so not an option for many traders Peri-urban market- this is where most traders market their goods Local peri-urban markets are better structured and organised in more urbanised parts of the KPUI
Constraints
On the whole, traders reported positive impact on income, trading has potential monetary benefits for livelihoods. However… Competition for trading spots, particularly in more urbanised communities with more traders Subject to seasonal fluctuation in supplies and consequently prices, since most goods sold are derived from traditional food crops
Cont’d
Constructing a kiosk is costly, space in local markets requires payment and may not be available Saturation of peri-urban markets which are smaller in size, YET urban markets not easily accessible to peri-urban traders Most KPUI trade concentrated in activities which require lower start up and working capital but have smaller profit margins
GENDER AND LIVELIHOODS IN THE KUMASI PERI-URBAN INTERFACE
Gender and Livelihoods
Gender in farming Men and women equally adopted farming BUT men were dominant in the more profitable vegetable production Women farmers had higher debt than male farmers due to high labour costs they incurred and their traditional roles for household provisioning Age also a determinant in crop farming, it is becoming an occupation of older persons
Cont’d
Gender in Trading Women dominant in trading, it is considered as women’s work Gender and livelihood outcomes More women reported increased income than men However, women had a higher over outstanding debt, possibly due to the use of their income for household provisioning More men felt they had benefited from skills and technology transfer, danger that women can be excluded
IMPACT OF LOCATION AND SPACE ON LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES
Impact of Location and Space
Crop farming dominant in rural, trading in urban and non-farm livelihood activities in intermediate locations Urban parts of the KPUI doing better in terms of reports of increased income, dependency on credit and outstanding debt Intermediate locations worse off: higher outstanding debt, higher dependency on credit- most vulnerable part of the KPUI?
Cont’d
Access for adequate space for production and storage critical Declining natural resource base affects all livelihood activities including crop farming, trading and non-farm natural resource production activities
Summary of Key Features of KPUI livelihoods
The Peri-urban Continuum Monetised Urban Economy Continuity of Traditional Livelihood Activities Gendered Differences in the Impact of Urbanisation
POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT IMPLICATIONS
Policy and Development Implications
Emphasis on short gestation activities (both farm and non-farm) Consider the relevance of livelihood activities across the KPUI continuum Support farmers to overcome barriers of entry into vegetable cultivation (women in particular)
Cont’d
Promote trading as it provides a regular source of income to poor households in the KPUI Consider the space requirements of livelihood activities Supporting women traders will have a multiplier effect on other members of their household
Cont’d
Recognize that traditional gender roles determine the choice and adoption of livelihood activities within the KPUI Ensure women participate in and benefit from activities which require the transfer of new skills and knowledge