International Eco patnership 2022 FWCF Scotland UK

Although there has been a substantial overall decline in the incidence of poverty in Ghana, poverty still has a firm grip on rural areas like the village of Wumenu, situated 8 miles from Ho, capital of the Volta Region.  

This region is amongst the poorest parts of Ghana where chronic food insecurity is widespread and livelihoods are more vulnerable. The regions inhabitants have limited access to basic social services, safe water, roads that are accessible year round, and electricity and telephone services. 

Poverty is most severe among food crop farmers, who are mainly traditional small-scale producers. About six in ten small-scale farmers are poor, and many are women. Women bear heavy workloads. In addition to their domestic chores, they are responsible for about 60 per cent of agricultural production. More than half the women who head households in rural areas are among the poorest 20 per cent of the population. 

 Low productivity and poorly functioning markets for agricultural outputs are among the main causes of rural poverty. Small-scale farmers lack the technologies and inputs, such as fertilizer and improved seed that would increase yields. Population pressure leads to shorter fallow periods or even continuous cultivation in the densely inhabited areas causing soil erosion and loss of fertility.