Purpose

This study investigates implications of crop and income diversifications on consumption expenditure (welfare) of rice-producing households in Ghana. It further compares diversification by three rice production systems: two-season rain-fed, two-season irrigated and one-season rain-fed rice production.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were sourced from 225 rice farmers. Margalef index and three-stage least-squares were employed.

Findings

Majority of rice-farming households in Ghana diversify livelihoods. The extent of livelihood diversification differs among two-season rain-fed, two-season irrigated and one-season rain-fed rice-producing households. Credit, distance to district capitals, production purpose and number of farming seasons influence crop and income diversifications, and consumption expenditure of rice-producing households. While crop diversification reduces consumption expenditure, income diversification increases it. Crop and income diversifications positively influence each other. Consumption expenditure reduces crop diversification but increases income diversification.

Practical implications

Policy should be directed towards the promotion of more livelihood activities to boost rice farmers' welfare. There should be awareness creation and training programmes to enable rice farmers realize different economic activities within and outside the agricultural value chain.

Originality/value

Crop and income diversifications were measured as continuous response variables, unlike previous studies that used a binary response variable. The authors established a synergy among crop and income diversifications, and consumption expenditure (welfare). The authors further compared crop and income diversifications by three rice production systems: two-season rain-fed, two-season irrigated and one-season rain-fed rice production systems.

中文翻译：

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加纳稻田收入多样化及其对家庭消费支出的影响

目的

本研究调查作物和收入多样化对加纳水稻生产家庭消费支出（福利）的影响。它进一步比较了三种水稻生产系统的多样化：两季雨养、两季灌溉和一季雨养水稻生产。

设计/方法/方法

原始数据来自 225 名稻农。采用 Margalef 指数和三级最小二乘法。

发现

加纳的大多数水稻种植户谋求生计多样化。两季雨养、两季灌溉和一季雨养水稻生产家庭的生计多样化程度不同。信贷、与地区首府的距离、生产目的和农季数量会影响作物和收入的多样化，以及水稻生产家庭的消费支出。虽然作物多样化减少了消费支出，但收入多样化增加了消费支出。作物和收入多样化相互影响。消费支出减少了作物多样化，但增加了收入多样化。

实际影响

政策应着眼于促进更多的生计活动，以提高稻农的福利。应该有意识创造和培训计划，使稻农能够实现农业价值链内外的不同经济活动。

原创性/价值

与以前使用二元响应变量的研究不同，作物和收入多样化被衡量为连续响应变量。作者建立了作物和收入多样化以及消费支出（福利）之间的协同作用。作者进一步比较了三种水稻生产系统的作物和收入多样化：两季雨养、两季灌溉和一季雨养水稻生产系统。