TY - JOUR
T1 - The food and environment we love; Examining the ‘on-the-ground’ application of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship in Ghana
AU - BOATENG, Dickson
AU - ATKINSON, Christopher
AU - ARTHUR-HOLMES, Francis
AU - AMOAH, Evans Amoako
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The past few years have witnessed emphasis on food security and sustainable farming— Sustainable Development Goal 2, zero hunger. Discourse on food production highlight knowledge and sources of advice on fertilisers use appears to influence farmers' efficient application of fertilisers. Yet, the research literature is silent on farmers' knowledge of fertilisers, its use and impacts on the environment in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper sets out to investigate the knowledge farmers have on the environment and analyse if they apply fertilisers in an environmentally efficient manner. Data was pulled from face-to-face administered questionnaires with 635 farmers in the Offinso Municipality, Ghana. Results showed that 94.0% of the farmers did apply fertilisers. Further, 47.8% of the 594 farmers who applied fertilisers relied on their accumulated knowledge with none applying fertilisers in accordance with the 4R Nutrient Stewardship — right type, right place, right time, and right rate. However, 60.6% of those who applied fertilisers were not aware that the inefficient application of fertilisers could harm the environment. Although the key role of extension officers in sustainable farming was acknowledged by farmers, access to extension services remained a problem. This paper suggests that extension officers should be supported by the agricultural institutions and the government to implement the 4R Nutrient Stewardship guidelines at the ground level to promote sustainable farming. Also, extension officers seeking to promote sustainable farming must intensify efforts in disseminating information on the 4Rs to farmers to secure the food and protect the environment we love.
AB - The past few years have witnessed emphasis on food security and sustainable farming— Sustainable Development Goal 2, zero hunger. Discourse on food production highlight knowledge and sources of advice on fertilisers use appears to influence farmers' efficient application of fertilisers. Yet, the research literature is silent on farmers' knowledge of fertilisers, its use and impacts on the environment in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper sets out to investigate the knowledge farmers have on the environment and analyse if they apply fertilisers in an environmentally efficient manner. Data was pulled from face-to-face administered questionnaires with 635 farmers in the Offinso Municipality, Ghana. Results showed that 94.0% of the farmers did apply fertilisers. Further, 47.8% of the 594 farmers who applied fertilisers relied on their accumulated knowledge with none applying fertilisers in accordance with the 4R Nutrient Stewardship — right type, right place, right time, and right rate. However, 60.6% of those who applied fertilisers were not aware that the inefficient application of fertilisers could harm the environment. Although the key role of extension officers in sustainable farming was acknowledged by farmers, access to extension services remained a problem. This paper suggests that extension officers should be supported by the agricultural institutions and the government to implement the 4R Nutrient Stewardship guidelines at the ground level to promote sustainable farming. Also, extension officers seeking to promote sustainable farming must intensify efforts in disseminating information on the 4Rs to farmers to secure the food and protect the environment we love.
KW - 4Rs
KW - Agriculture extension
KW - Environment
KW - Food security
KW - Ghana
KW - Sustainable farming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150829906&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100481
DO - 10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100481
M3 - Journal Article (refereed)
AN - SCOPUS:85150829906
SN - 2590-2911
VL - 7
JO - Social Sciences and Humanities Open
JF - Social Sciences and Humanities Open
IS - 1
M1 - 100481
ER -