Funding Strategies for Smallholder Rice Farmers in Afadzato South District, Ghana
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Funding Strategies for Smallholder Rice Farmers in Afadzato South District, Ghana Faith S. Ababio-Twi Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Accounting Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Faith S. Ababio-Twi has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Christopher Beehner, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Jonathan Schultz, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Rocky Dwyer, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2019 Abstract Funding Strategies for Smallholder Rice Farmers in Afadzato South District, Ghana by Faith S. Ababio-Twi MS, Governors State University, 2010 BS, Governors State University, 2007 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University December 2019 Abstract Agriculture revenue contributions to Ghana’s gross domestic product have declined because of limited farm funding, which has constrained some smallholder rice farmers access credit to acquire necessary inputs, and to secure a stable market for their harvests. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore successful strategies some smallholder rice farmers in the Afadzato South District of Ghana used in obtaining farm funding. Data collection included semistructured, face-to-face interviews with 9 smallholder rice farmers who successfully obtained farm funding. Previous research, reports, and policies of the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture served as additional data collection sources. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and resulted in three major themes: the smallholder farmer’s strategy of belonging to cooperative association membership, the smallholder farmer’s strategy for satisfying lender collateral requirements, and smallholder farmer’s strategies for developing a repayment rating history. The implications for positive social change include the potential to guide the smallholder farmers to successful strategies to access farm funding for their farming activities and increase their farm sizes. The increase in farm sizes may result in more rice production that can help mitigate hunger and reduce poverty in the Afadzato South District of Ghana. Funding Strategies for Smallholder Rice Farmers in Afadzato South District, Ghana by Faith S. Ababio-Twi MS, Governors State University, 2010 BS, Governors State University, 2007 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University December 2019 Dedication I dedicate this work to the loving memories of my caring mother, Florence Akua Agbo, and my father, David Kwaku Twi. William Eddie Kwesi Twi, how I wish you there to see this work. I am very grateful to all of you. Acknowledgments I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Almighty God through Jesus Christ my personal savior who die and risen on the third day for the wisdom, knowledge, health, strength, and peace. His grace toward me has been unplumbed and exclusive. My thanks also go to Dr. Christopher G. Beehner, my doctoral chairperson for his staunch support and kindness. I am beholden and thankful to Drs. Denise Land and Jonathan Schultz, who both served as second committee members, and Dr. Rocky Dwyer, the University Research Reviewer for their clear direction, support, and encouragement which helped me to complete the doctoral study process. Finally, thanks to my children (Emefa, Etornam, Elorm and Esenam). My family helped me to navigate through the tough challenges of adult learning and the successful completion of the doctoral program. I affirmed my promise to you all to give back to the community and serve humanity as a global scholar of social change. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................1 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................3 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................3 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................3 Research Question .........................................................................................................5 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................5 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................7 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................8 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................9 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 9 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 9 Delimitations ......................................................................................................... 10 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................11 i Title ....................................................................................................................... 13 Some Challenges Faced by Smallholder Farmers ................................................ 29 Ghana Government Support for the Smallholder Rice Farmers in Ghana ........... 33 Smallholder Rice Farmer Cooperative Association Benefits ............................... 36 Successful Strategies Smallholder Rice Farmers .................................................. 40 Transition .....................................................................................................................48 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................49 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................49 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................49 Participants ...................................................................................................................50 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................51 Research Method .................................................................................................. 51 Research Design.................................................................................................... 52 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................53 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................55 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................55 Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................57 ii Data Organization Technique ......................................................................................58 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................59 Reliability and Validity ................................................................................................60 Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................63 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implications for Change ..................65 Introduction ..................................................................................................................65 Presentation of the Findings.........................................................................................66 Participants’ Demographic Information ............................................................... 66 Funding Strategies for Small-Scale Rice Farmers in Afadzato South District......................................................................................................