Crop Residue Management Practices and Trade-offs among Smallholder Farmers in Kassena Nankana Municipality, Upper East Region, Ghana

Abstract

Crop residues serve a crucial role in both livestock feeding and soil fertility management. Proper management of crop residues can provide feed for livestock, improve soil fertility in smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the trade-offs in crop residues use among small-holder farmers and its implications for sustainable farming in the face of climate vulnerability in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The study used a cross-sectional survey involving 450 farming households. Descriptive statistics were employed to identify the main sources of crop residues, the different uses of crop residues and the factors accounting for burning of crop residues as a management practice. A multivariate probit model was used to analyze the factors that influence farmers crop residue management practices. The results indicated that crop residues were used as livestock feed (20.44%), as cooking fuel (19.56%), left on the farm land to decompose as manure (40%) or burned to clear the farm land (20%). The study showed that cowpea haulms recorded the highest mean value of crude protein (74g DM kg-1) while sorghum recorded the lowest mean crude protein value of 37g DM kg-1). The results from the multivariate probit analysis indicated that household and farm variables, institutional and socio-psychological factors and climatic variability influence farmers choice of crop residue management practices. Crop residues utilization and management practices chosen were determined by factors such as the type of crop grown, challenges the farmers face and the technology available to the farmers. The study recommends government should provide the needed technical know-how and the appropriate technology for sustainable use of crop residues. Efforts should also be geared towards increased access to agricultural extension services because this would greatly influence farmers decision to adopt sustainable crop residues utilization methods.