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Changing dynamics of peri-urban land tenure and pineapple production in Ghana : case studies of pineapple farmers in Awutu-Senya and Nsawam Districts

Land Tenure changes, resulting from rapid urbanisation, population growth and contested access to land, have resulted in shrinking farming land for Ghanaian pineapple farmers. This has contributed to the conversion of traditional farming pineapple lands into non-agricultural use. Pineapple farmers are therefore confronted with the problem increased tenure access costs, land expropriation and contested tenure access rights. However, research in this area is very limited in Ghana making it difficult to understand important dynamics and implications of land tenure changes. The research uses the example of pineapple farmers in two peri-urban areas in Ghana to examine the links between pineapple farming and land tenure. Field work data was gathered in Ghana (Nsawam district, Eastern Region and Awutu-Senya District, Central Region) using key informant interviews, household survey, and focus group discussions. The chosen context offered an excellent backdrop in which contestations over tenure access between farmers and real estate developers is contributing to increasing land scarcity. However, the research focuses attention on understanding how pineapple farmers manage and adjust to land tenure change. The study was presented in a summary and three research papers. The results of the research provided evidence to suggest that accelerated development of land markets is driving increasing processes of tenure individualisation. This is causing land to shift gradually away from customary control. Consequently, vulnerable groups such as poorer farmers and migrant groups are finding it increasingly difficult to access arable farming land securely. Wealthier farmers such as contracted groups with assured markets and higher incomes are taking advantage of their position to claim more land while poorer farmers are increasingly driven to look outside farming to gain employment and access income.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:761541
Date January 2017
CreatorsIddi, Ali-Salas
PublisherUniversity of East Anglia
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttps://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/68574/

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