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Understanding Poverty in Cash-crop Agro-forestry Systems : Evidence from Ghana and Ethiopia

Hirons, M. ; Robinson, E. ; McDermott, C. ; Morel, A. ; Asare, R. ; Boyd, E. LU ; Gonfa, T. ; Gole, T. W. ; Malhi, Y. and Mason, J. , et al. (2018) In Ecological Economics 154. p.31-41
Abstract

This paper examines the linkages between cash-crop income and other dimensions of poverty to interrogate assumptions regarding the relationship between agricultural income and poverty alleviation. The analysis treats poverty as a multi-dimensional and socially disaggregated phenomenon. The paper employs a mixed methods approach to case studies of Ghana and Ethiopia to explore two critical issues. First, how income from cash crops is linked with other dimensions of poverty. Second, how income and land are socially disaggregated. The paper then draws on qualitative data to critically reflect on how poverty is understood within studied communities. The results show that some, but not all, indicators of poverty vary across income quartiles... (More)

This paper examines the linkages between cash-crop income and other dimensions of poverty to interrogate assumptions regarding the relationship between agricultural income and poverty alleviation. The analysis treats poverty as a multi-dimensional and socially disaggregated phenomenon. The paper employs a mixed methods approach to case studies of Ghana and Ethiopia to explore two critical issues. First, how income from cash crops is linked with other dimensions of poverty. Second, how income and land are socially disaggregated. The paper then draws on qualitative data to critically reflect on how poverty is understood within studied communities. The results show that some, but not all, indicators of poverty vary across income quartiles and that significant differences exist across social groups. The analysis suggests that although cash crops are essential, focusing on increasing income from cash crops will not necessarily have a predictable or progressive impact on wellbeing. Furthermore, the analysis highlights how contextual factors, such as the provision of communal services, the nature of land holdings and the quality of local governance mediate the potential poverty alleviating outcomes of income increases. Future development of sustainable intensification strategies should focus on the prevalence of trade-offs and the fundamental social relations underpinning poverty dynamics.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Agriculture, Cocoa, Coffee, Ethiopia, Ghana, Poverty
in
Ecological Economics
volume
154
pages
11 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85050879392
ISSN
0921-8009
DOI
10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.07.021
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
07d7c72d-96a4-478f-99df-38fb58dfa83b
date added to LUP
2018-08-15 14:46:36
date last changed
2022-04-25 08:39:54
@article{07d7c72d-96a4-478f-99df-38fb58dfa83b,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper examines the linkages between cash-crop income and other dimensions of poverty to interrogate assumptions regarding the relationship between agricultural income and poverty alleviation. The analysis treats poverty as a multi-dimensional and socially disaggregated phenomenon. The paper employs a mixed methods approach to case studies of Ghana and Ethiopia to explore two critical issues. First, how income from cash crops is linked with other dimensions of poverty. Second, how income and land are socially disaggregated. The paper then draws on qualitative data to critically reflect on how poverty is understood within studied communities. The results show that some, but not all, indicators of poverty vary across income quartiles and that significant differences exist across social groups. The analysis suggests that although cash crops are essential, focusing on increasing income from cash crops will not necessarily have a predictable or progressive impact on wellbeing. Furthermore, the analysis highlights how contextual factors, such as the provision of communal services, the nature of land holdings and the quality of local governance mediate the potential poverty alleviating outcomes of income increases. Future development of sustainable intensification strategies should focus on the prevalence of trade-offs and the fundamental social relations underpinning poverty dynamics.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hirons, M. and Robinson, E. and McDermott, C. and Morel, A. and Asare, R. and Boyd, E. and Gonfa, T. and Gole, T. W. and Malhi, Y. and Mason, J. and Norris, K.}},
  issn         = {{0921-8009}},
  keywords     = {{Agriculture; Cocoa; Coffee; Ethiopia; Ghana; Poverty}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{31--41}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Ecological Economics}},
  title        = {{Understanding Poverty in Cash-crop Agro-forestry Systems : Evidence from Ghana and Ethiopia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.07.021}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.07.021}},
  volume       = {{154}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}