ABSTRACT

Sustainable development and sustainability have taken centre stage in national and international discussions in recent years. Empirical evidence suggests that sustainability of development endeavours and livelihood are crucial for sustainable development. In Ghana, studies have found the role of food crop production in livelihood sustainability of farmers. Ginger farming is one crop that is not fully embraced in Ghana, and as a result its production is largely limited to women in rural areas. To ascertain whether ginger farming has improved women’s livelihood, this study seeks to investigate the contribution of ginger production to women’s livelihood sustainability in the Asutifi South District of Ghana. The study is explorative, using a concurrent embedded mixed method approach. A total of 279 women were selected for the study, a questionnaire and interviews were used, and data were analysed descriptively and thematically. The results of the study revealed that ginger farming provides women with improved income, and as a result empowered them economically through access to and ownership of productive assets. Aside from that, the study observed that ginger production has improved women’s health status, enhanced their societal recognition and decision-making powers within their households and communities. However, the study also observed that women have limited access to production resources. The study’s contribution to literature and policy implications are discussed.

摘要

近年来，可持续发展和可持续性已成为国家和国际讨论的焦点。经验证据表明，发展努力和生计的可持续性对于可持续发展至关重要。在加纳，研究发现粮食作物生产对农民生计可持续性的作用。生姜种植是加纳尚未完全接受的一种作物，因此其生产主要限于农村地区的妇女。为了确定生姜种植是否改善了妇女的生计，本研究旨在调查生姜生产对加纳 Asutifi 南区妇女生计可持续性的贡献。该研究是探索性的，使用并发嵌入式混合方法。总共选择了 279 名女性进行研究，使用了问卷和访谈，并对数据进行了描述性和专题分析。研究结果表明，生姜种植为妇女提供了更高的收入，并因此通过获得和拥有生产性资产在经济上赋予她们权力。除此之外，该研究还观察到生姜生产改善了女性的健康状况，增强了她们在家庭和社区中的社会认可度和决策权。然而，该研究还观察到，女性获得生产资源的机会有限。讨论了该研究对文献和政策影响的贡献。并因此通过获得和拥有生产性资产在经济上赋予他们权力。除此之外，该研究还观察到生姜生产改善了女性的健康状况，增强了她们在家庭和社区中的社会认可度和决策权。然而，该研究还观察到，女性获得生产资源的机会有限。讨论了该研究对文献和政策影响的贡献。并因此通过获得和拥有生产性资产在经济上赋予他们权力。除此之外，该研究还观察到生姜生产改善了女性的健康状况，增强了她们在家庭和社区中的社会认可度和决策权。然而，该研究还观察到，女性获得生产资源的机会有限。讨论了该研究对文献和政策影响的贡献。