3. Appiah and Nyarko
Smallholder Farmers and Agroforestry Land Use Optimisation in Forest Fringed Communities in Ghana
421
prices of basic necessities and high input cost than
revenues. Again the ecological unfriendly farming
practices and human activities, particularly farming
and timber extraction have reduced the primary
forests to secondary forests. In some parts of the
municipality, the vegetation is rapidly changing into
grassland due to deforestation. This is seriously
affecting the climatic change as it has direct ray of the
scorching sun on the earth as a result of the non-
availability of vegetation cover. These are major
problems faced by small scale farmers in the Bekwai
municipality, a vast urban space in the Ashanti region.
The inclusion of trees as a key component in
agroforestry, provides a number of benefits to farmers
that enhances the welfare of smallholder farmers
through the multiplicity of products and services they
provide (timber, food, fuel wood, poles fodder,
medicine, spices, gums, raisins, soil fertility
improvement, erosion control wind breaks, shade
etc.). For instance, it can enhance soil fertility in many
situations and improve farm household resilience
through provision of additional products for sale or
home consumption (Thangataa and Hildebrand,
2012). Benefits are diverse and in line with felt needs,
thus agroforestry provides a more diverse farm
economy and stimulates the whole rural economy,
leading to more stable farms and communities.
According to World Agroforestry Centre (2012),
agroforestry - the incorporation of trees into farming
system restore degraded soil which can boost food
production (for humans as well as animals) and
provide alternatively sources of nutrition or income
when crop yields are low. The study therefore
examines the potential role of agroforestry practices in
solving mitigating agricultural land use and misuse
problems in forest-fringe communities in Ghana.
Fig. 1: Map Showing the Bekwai Municipal Assembly and the study areas
Source: Department of Geography and Rural Development, KNUST-Ghana
4. International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 3(12), pp. 0420-0430, 2015
422
2. MATERIALS AND METHOD
2.1. Study Area
The Bekwai Municipal Assembly is located in the
southern part of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The
Municipality lies within Latitude 6 00’N and 6 30’N
and Longitudes 1 00 W and 1˚35 W. It covers a total
land area of about 633sqkm. The Municipality lies
within the forest dissected plateau. The topography is
relatively flat with occasional undulating uplands,
which rise around 240 meters to 300 meters. The
relatively flat and occasional undulating lands
promote fertile area for agriculture production.
The climate of the Municipality is the semi-
equatorial type. It is characterized by double maxima
rainfall. The mean annual rainfall is between 1600m –
1800mm. It has a fairly high and uniform temperature
ranging between 32C in March and 20 C in August.
The temperature regime and rainfall pattern enhance
the cultivation of many food crops throughout the
Municipality (Bekwai Municipal Assembly, 2006).
The research was conducted in the Bekwai Municipal
because agriculture is the dominant occupation in the
area (Bekwai Municipal Assembly, 2006).
2.2. Sampling
The study relied on both primary and secondary data.
Primary data were sources from subsistence farmers.
Using simple random sampling, 20 and 50 standard
survey questionnaires were administered to subsistent
farmer heads of household in Apaso and Abenkyim
communities respectively to find out farmers’ land use
and misuse challenges in the communities. On the
other hand the study relied on secondary data for an
in-depth analysis of the role of agro forestry in
mitigating land use problems in Ghana.
2.3. Statistical Analysis
Relevant documents such as published policy data,
institutional records and official reports were collated
and critically analyzed. Similarly, other relevant
secondary sources of information included journals
and books. With the quantitative data, analysis was
done using the frequencies and cross-tabulations tools
in tools in the Predictive Analytics Software (PASW)
version 17 for Windows application. The results were
further analysed using descriptive statistical tools such
as bar-graphs and charts in the interpretation of the
result.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1. Farmers Farm Size
Farmers’ land size was needed for the researcher to
classify farmers as smallholders. According to Food
and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of United
Nation, there is no unique and unambiguous definition
of a smallholder farmer. Often, scale measured in
terms of farm size is used to classify farmers.
Smallholders are often those who farm less than a
threshold size of 2 acres. Farm sizes in the study area
as shown in fig. 2, are predominantly less than 6
acres. Majority (71%) of the farmers had farm sizes
below 6 acres, 20% of the farmers had 6-10 acres, 8%
had farm sizes of 11-15 acres and only 2% of the
farmers had farm sizes of more than 10 acres. The
average farm size of 5.7 acres indicates that farmers
were mostly small holder ones. This justifies the study
that participant were mostly smallholder’s farmers in
the two communities as confirmed by FAO.
3.2. Land Use Systems and Types of Crops
Cultivated
Land use refers to the use of land for different
purposes include farming, wildlife habitat, forest
agriculture (agroforestry), settlement etc. It plays a
vital role for many planning and management
activities concerned with the surface of the earth.
It was important to find out what farmers in Apaso
and Abenkyi used their land for and the types of crop
grown. From the survey, the principal land use
systems identified in the study area were crop and
animal production systems. It was clear that
agroforestry was limited at the study area. Most
farmers had no knowledge about agro-forestry and
those who did generally perceived it to have a
potential for solving their fuel wood and fodder needs,
improve the soil fertility and provide favourable
climate for crops such as cocoa. Farmers also
confirmed that their farm sizes are an impediment to
practices agroforestry. This supports the assertion
made by Cheikh etal. (2014), that where land holdings
are small, farmers are often unwilling or unable to
spare land for agroforestry establishment (even if this
promises higher returns in the long run). This
argument confirms with Adekunle et al. (2004) reports
that farmers cannot afford to share the little land in
their possession between arable cropping and tree
planting.
5. Appiah and Nyarko
Smallholder Farmers and Agroforestry Land Use Optimisation in Forest Fringed Communities in Ghana
423
Fig. 2: Farmers’ Farm Sizes in Acres
Fig. 3: Distribution of Crop Types Cultivated
3.2.1. Crop Production System and Types of Crop
Grown
From Fig. 3, majority of the farmers (91%) confirmed
that the main dominant crops cultivated on their farms
were food crops included Maize (Zea mays), Yam
(Dioscorea spp), Plantain (Musa paradisiaca),
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and Cocoyam
(Xanthosoma sagithifolium). This was followed by
cash crop. Sixty percent of farmers indicated that they
cultivate cash crops such asCitrus sp, Oil palm (Elaeis
guineensis) and Cocoa (Theobroma cacao). On the
other hand few farmers (16%) also confirmed that
they used the land to cultivate vegetables such as
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Pepper (Capsicum
frutecens), Okro (Abelmoschus esculentus), Garden
eggs (Solanum melongene) and Tomatoes (Solanum
lycopersicum). In general, it was observed that food
crop production was only on subsistence level while
cash crops, mainly cocoa and oil palm were cultivated
on a medium. The results imply that the land in Apaso
and Abenkyi were mainly used to cultivate food crop
for household consumption and cash crops for
household income.
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424
3.2.2. Animal Production System
Animal rearing was not a dominant activity in the
area. Out of the 70 farmers interviewed, only 21%
reared animals on small scale. They included poultry
(ducks, chicken guinea fowl), goats and sheep. Free
range system of animal rearing was common in the
study area. Farmers reported that feed such as fodder
and farm residues could be obtained adequately
during the rainy season but during the dry season it
was difficult to come by and farmers resorted to
household waste as the main source of food for
animals. Farmers claimed that shortage of fodder in
the dry seasons was the main reason for the low
number of animals kept. The farmers confirmed that
the animals supplement their household with food and
sometimes income thereby alleviating household
poverty.
Fig. 4: Agricultural Challenges
3.3. Agricultural Challenges Identified By Farmers
Agricultural and land use challenges identified to be
the cause of low crop production from their farms in
the study area are presented in Fig. 4. These included
poor soils, small farm sizes, climate variability and
change (insufficient rainfall and wind throw), weed
infestation, pests, diseases and livestock damage to
crops.
3.3.1. Poor soil
From fig. 4, majority (87%) of the farmers indicated
poor soils, as a result of low soil fertility, is the main
cause of low productivity in the study area. Farmers
attributed poor soils to the continuous cultivation of
the land without adequate fallow periods (due to the
high demand for products) or fertilizer inputs which
they could not afford. The average number of years a
farmer cultivated a land was found to be 15.5 years
(with little or no fallow) attesting to the fact that the
lands had been over cultivated. The findings
confirmed Sanchez, 2002 who stated that a major
constraint to crop production among farmers is poor
soil fertility caused by poor soil quality and
inappropriate soil management practices.
3.3.2. Small Farm Size
Farm sizes in the study area as shown in fig. 2 are
predominantly less than 6 acres. From fig. 2, majority
(70.6%) of the farmers had farm sizes below 6 acres,
19.6% of the farmers had 6-10 acres, 7.8% had farm
sizes of 11-15 acres and only 2.0% of the farmers had
farm sizes of more than 10 acres. The average farm
size of 5.7 acres indicated that farmers were mostly
small holder ones and this they claimed was a
principal cause of their inability to produce more to
meet their demands. Thus, the size of the land
available to the farmers, served as a limiting factor for
higher production and for the integration of trees. This
argument supports the assertion made by Cheikh et al.
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Smallholder Farmers and Agroforestry Land Use Optimisation in Forest Fringed Communities in Ghana
425
(2014), that where land holdings are small, farmers
are often unwilling or unable to spare land for
agroforestry establishment (even if this promises
higher returns in the long run). Where land holdings
are also insecure, farmers are often reluctant to invest
in the long-term endeavor of establishing trees that
may benefit the next owner of their land rather than
themselves.
3.3.3. Climate Variability and Change
The major climatic element that farmers reported that
it poses another challenge to them was insufficient
rainfall and strong winds. Farmers mentioned
insufficient and sometimes lack of expected rains as
cause of low crop production. In fig. 4, 69% of
farmers agreed that they experienced water problems
especially in the dry seasons. It was observed that
farmers faced water problems because most (90%)
depend on rainfall as source of irrigation. This
confirms with Twomlow et al. (2006) reports that
smallholders in the semi-arid environments are highly
dependent on seasonal rainfall. The results is in line
with the findings of World Bank (2012) reports which
stated that climate change is likely to make water
scarcer in regions where scarcity is already an issue.
On the other hand strong winds in the rainy season
were identified as a problem in the area. Farmers
mentioned that their crops especially plantains, were
lodged as a result of strong winds which results in low
yields.
3.3.4. Weed Infestations
Weed infestation was found to be a source of farmers’
low crop production. From fig. 4, farmers (32%)
mentioned that persistent weeds such as the vetiver
grass Chrysopogon zizanioides, Chromolaena
Ordorata popularly called Acheampong weed, Tridax
procumbens and goat weed competed with their crops
for resources such as water and nutrients and resulted
in low crop yields. Adeosun (2008), found out that
one kilogram of weeds reduced the yield of rice by
500-900 grams in a Nigerian experiment and
concluded that weeds competed with crops for
nutrients, space, light and water thus reduced crop
yields. The Chromolaena Ordorata, shrub seems to be
the predominant vegetative cover in many parts of the
Municipality.
3.3.5. Pest and Diseases
Pests and diseases were also identified to be the cause
of low crop production by farmers. Plantains for
example in the area had sigatoka disease that affected
the yields. The cassava mealy bug and the variegated
grasshopper were identified as some common pests of
cassava and the main diseases in the area that affected
their yields included the cassava mosaic disease. Yam
yields were affected by the powdery mildew and
hornworms (Manduca sexta) and psyllids (Bactericera
cockerelli) affected tomato plants in the area. Maize
seeds and seedlings were affected by spotted maize
beetle, ground beetle and army worm which cause
extensive damage to the seedlings.
3.3.6 Livestock Damage
Livestock damage was recognized as another
prominent problem in the area. This was dominant
amongst animal producers as well as farmers who did
not engage in animal production. Tree seedlings as
well as crops were browsed and damaged by animals
especially cattle. There was also trampling by the
animals which damaged young seedlings and also
resulted in soil compaction affecting its aeration and
structure.
4. ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY IN
MITIGATING AGRICULTURAL LAND USE
PROBLEMS
To address farmers’ principal agricultural changes
and land use problem identified, it is imperative for
farmers to adopt intercropping which refers to
growing crops between trees planted in rows and
alleys. According to Young (1988), a major function
of agroforestry is in helping to solve land use
problems; problems of the farmer and of the land.
Agroforestry technologies have been proposed to
mitigate the problems identified by small holders’
farmers in Apaaso and Abenkyim.
4.1. Agroforestry for Soil Enrichment
The incorporation of trees and shrubs that are able to
biologically fix nitrogen is fairly common in tropical
Agro-forestry systems. According to Jose (2009), in
agro-forestry systems non nitrogen-fixing trees can
also enhance soil physical, chemical and biological
properties by adding organic matter and releasing and
recycling nutrients. In the humid tropics, it has been
estimated that Leucaena leucocephala can annually
fix 500 kg of nitrogen in a hectare of land. Udawatta
et al. (2008), showed that there is improved soil
aggregates, stability, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil
nitrogen and soil enzyme activity in soils under
agroforestry buffers as compared to row and alley
cropping systems. Proposed tree species usually used
include; Baphia nitida,Calliandra calothyrsus,Cassia
siamea, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena
leucocephala. These are chosen based on their high
8. International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences, 3(12), pp. 0420-0430, 2015
426
biomass production, fast response to pruning, deep
taproot system, efficient nitrogen-fixing ability, rapid
growth, and few lateral roots (Nair, 1993).
Nitrogen fixing trees that are used in agroforestry
system improve soil fertility and reduce the need for
chemical or mineral fertilizers applications, which is
particularly important for farmers who may not be
able to afford (we ADAPT, 2012). Agroforestry has
supportive functions for soil fertility improvement or
water recycling. It is therefore important for
subsistence farmers incorporate trees and shrub into
their farming to solve low soil fertility challenges they
face due to continuous farming. The incorporation of
these trees and shrubs into farming system restore
degraded soil which can boost food production (for
humans as well as animals) and provide alternatively
sources of nutrition or income when crop yields are
low (World Agroforestry Centre, 2012).
4.2. Agroforestry for Home Gardens
Most farmers (70%) who complained of small farm
sizes as an impediment to agroforestry adoption can
practice home gardens even in the backyards and
maintain it themselves. Home gardens consist of an
assemblage of plants, which include trees, shrubs,
vines, and herbaceous plants, growing in or adjacent
to a homestead or home compound (Young, 1997). In
Indonesia, agroforestry home gardens play an
essential role in the agricultural economy, producing
foodstuffs and other subsistence or commercial
products and also meeting most of the requirements
for sustainability (Torquebiau, 1992). Nair (1993)
reported that, home gardens are of economic
importance to small farm families as they provide
supplementary and continuous flow of products such
as food for household consumption, medicine, poles,
and offer a buffering capacity when the main crops
fail.
4.3. Agroforestry for Mitigating Climate
Variability and Change
With climate change expected to lead to unpredictable
seasons in the future, placing even greater pressure on
agricultural systems, food production and food prices,
agroforestry promises to be a viable option to help
buffer farmers against the adverse impacts.
Agroforestry is often considered a cost-effective
strategy for climate change mitigation. Tree-based
farming systems store carbon in soils and woody
biomass, and they may also reduce greenhouse gas
emissions from soils (Smith and Olesen, 2010).The
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2001)
asserts that Agro-forestry on a more intensive scale
has the potential to remove fifty billion tons of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere. Takimoto et al. (2008)
also investigated the extent of carbon sequestration in
agro-forestry systems of West African Sahel and
concluded that agro-forestry practices such as live
fencing and fodder banks sequestered more carbon
than traditional parklands.
Gupta et al. (2009) examined soil organic carbon and
aggregation under a popular-based Agroforestry
system in Northwest India and brought to a close that
the soil organic carbon concentration and pools were
higher in the Agro-forestry systems and increased
with tree age. This brings up the broader concept of
aiming to mitigate climate change through forest
system, embodied in a United Nations programme
called REDD+; Reducing, Emission from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Thus agro
forestry can serve a role in mitigating climate change
and helping farmers to adapt to the effects of climate.
The potential for building resilience and adapting to
climate change and variability through agro forestry is
particularly promising for smallholder farmers in
Ghana who are most vulnerable to its effect.
Agroforestry has been called No Regrets option for
climate change adaptation. It is an intervention that
has attractive benefits for the implementer and
potential benefits for the planet as a whole (Finlayson
2013).
On the other hand, farmers’ problem with winds
destroying their crops especially plantain can be
addressed by planting windbreaks. According to Kort
(1988) windbreaks are strips of trees or shrubs planted
to protect areas; fields and homesteads from strong
winds and to prevent soil erosion due to wind. They
can be planted at the borders or within the farm land.
They also have other benefits including fruits, timber,
fodder, mulch, and other economic or farm products.
Weber et al. (1988) reported that in Kenya and
Tanzania windbreaks have shown to be very effective
in protecting maize fields and settlements in the
savannah areas of these countries. Trees suitable for
windbreaks have the potential of reducing wind speed
and possibly diverting the direction of the wind to
protect crops. The tree species include: Albizia zygia,
Calliandra calothyrsus, Ficus capensis, Gliricidia
sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Mangifera indica,
Moringa oleifera, Baphia nitida, Tectona grandis and
Gmelina aborea (Nair, 1993).
4.4. Agroforestry and Weeds Control
International Centre for Research in Agroforestry
(ICRAF 1993), reported that a layer of surface
pruning’s reduces weed biomass by more than 50%,
with consequent benefits for crops. Pruning of trees
will provide farmers with organic mulches which
consist of loose materials such as flax, sawdust, or
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Smallholder Farmers and Agroforestry Land Use Optimisation in Forest Fringed Communities in Ghana
427
wood chip. These mulches control weeds and
conserve soils. Therefore, farmers who complain
about weed infestation as a land use problem can
adopt agroforestry where after the pruning of the tress
it will serve as an organic mulch to reduce weed
infections.
4.5. Agroforestry for Pest and Diseases
Suppression
The practices for management of an agroforestry
system need to be developed with a view to
minimizing insects-pest incidence. Fast growing and
Nitrogen-fixing trees like Albizia zygia, Albizia
lebbek, Gliricidia sepium,Leucaena leucocephala,
Sesbania sesban, Cajanus cajan can be included to
improve soil fertility and also suppress pest and
diseases (Nair, 1993). Farmers’ problems with pests
and diseases could also be addressed by this practice.
This is confirmed by Sileshi et al. (2006) who noted
that even simple practices such as rotational fallows
were found to suppress insect pests. Also according
to the report of a GTZ Fellowship, the introduction of
a variety of odour emitting plants in an agroforestry
system may help to divert the major pests if they are
guided by odours. Some non-food plants act as
physical barriers and reduce the dispersal and
searching ability of parasites (Price, 1970, 1971).
4.6. Agroforestry for Live Fences
Farmers affected by browsing damage by animals to
crops can practice live fencing. These are permanent
lines of trees or shrubs planted to define areas where
general access is prevented such as around a
compound, homestead garden/farm, pasture plots or
animal enclosures (Westley, 1990). They serve mainly
as field boundaries to keep animals on the farm (under
livestock management) and off adjacent crop fields or
farm areas to prevent them from harming crops and
tree seedlings through browsing and trampling.
Besides their main function living fences, they
provide fuelwood and fodder (Westley, 1990).
Examples of good live fencing species include;
Gliricidia sepium, Jatropha curcas, Newbouldia
laevis and Parkinsonia aculeate (Nair, 1993).
4.7. Agroforestry for fodder banks
Farmers who did not rear animals because their feed
was scarce in the dry season can do so with the
adoption of fodder banks. Fodder banks are plantings
of high quality fodder species. Their goal is to
maintain healthy productive animals in the dry season
when the quantity and quality of forage greatly
decreases and is generally low in nutritional value
(Ivory, 1990). The relatively deep roots of these
woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients
and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous
plants. The ability of some legumes to fix atmospheric
nitrogen makes them protein rich feeds (Devendra,
1990). Examples of good fodder species are; Acacia
nilotica, Baphia nitida, Calliandra callothysus, Ficus
exasperata, Fleminga macrophylla, Milletia
thonningii and Pithecelobium spp., Moringa oleifera,
Baphia nitida, Tectona grandis and Gmelina aborea.
5. ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF
AGROFORESTRY TO SMALLHOLDER
FARMERS
Agroforestry helps in poverty reduction through the
increased production of agroforestry products both for
home consumption and sale. The use of woody foliage
as fodder reduces the cost of feeding livestock and
prevents the economic damage done by the loss of
livestock during famine or drought (Cornell, 2007).
Usually, the woody species used in agroforestry
themselves are valuable. Woody species may provide
fruit, fibre, nuts, building and craft materials,
medicines, timber, charcoal, and a host of other
products which can be used on-farm or sold. Longer
growing tree species used in agroforestry are often
used by farmers as a "bank account" which can
provide cash income during years with bad harvests.
Rahman and Islam (1997) found that in Dinajpur,
Bangladesh the Net Present Value (NPV) of
agroforestry is positive with significant and much
higher Internal Rates of Return (IRR) than other
agricultural projects. Research also indicates the cost
and benefit of agroforestry systems in Hawaii is
financially viable and less risky than traditional
agriculture and forestry (Elevitch and Wilkinson,
2000).
Agroforestry also makes possible a better year
round use of labour or machinery. Diversifying and
strengthening agricultural and forest production
contributes to a strong natural resources sector which
enhances community stability. In other words,
agroforestry can provide a more diverse farm
economy and stimulate the whole rural economy,
leading to more stable farms and communities.
Economic risks are reduced when systems produce
multiple products. Likewise, agroforestry produces
economically valuable social benefits, some directly
measurable, others not, by ensuring resource
conservation.
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428
6. CONCLUSION AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
This study examined the possibility of agroforestry in
lessening land use problems facing farmers in the
Bekwai municipality. Agriculture, which was
identified as the dominant occupation in the area,
faced serious challenges. The main land use types in
the municipality, crop and animal production, were
confronted with problems which included poor soils,
small farm sizes, wind throw, insufficient rains, weed
infestation, pests, diseases and livestock damage to
crops. Technologies of agroforestry-whose major
function is in helping to solve land use problems;
problems of the farmer and of the land were proposed
to alleviate the problems farmers faced. The role of
agroforestry in mitigating land use problems was
identified. They included agroforestry for soil
enrichment, agroforestry for mitigating climate
variability and change, agroforestry for weed and pest
suppression. Though majority of the farmers kept
trees on their farm lands to provide them with shade,
fuel wood, windbreaks to prevent crops such as
plantain from lodging and support for climbing
plants, they had least knowledge on agroforestry.
The agroforestry technologies proposed had a
potential to be adopted and practiced by farmers in the
municipality since the majority were formally
educated, owned the farm lands and had large
household sizes which were a source of labour. It is
therefore to implement the following
recommendations to mitigate land use challenges
faced by smallholders’ farmers in the Bekwai
municipality. Extensive and intense extension
education and training (through workshops and
seminars) should be conducted by government and
non-government agencies to create awareness as well
as organization of regular follow and feedback session
with farmers, since most lacked knowledge about
agroforestry. Credit conditions such as easy access to
loans and provision of incentives must be reviewed to
enable farmers obtain the necessary inputs required to
a successful practice of agroforestry. Farmers should
be encouraged to form co-operative groups to enhance
easy access to credit facilities as well as spreading of
knowledge and skills acquired to their colleagues.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to acknowledge the immense
contribution of Mr. Edwin Tuffour for collecting some
of the data for this manuscript. We also acknowledge
the contribution of the Department of Geography and
Rural Development in the provision of office space
and logistical support for this study.
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Mr. Patrick Nyarko holds a Bachelor of Art Degree in Geography and Rural Development
from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. He is a
member of the Centre for Rural Research and Poverty Reduction (local NGO in Ghana), a
fellow of the Rural Research and Advocacy Group (RRAG-Ghana) and member of Ghana
Geographical Association. Currently Mr. Nyarko is a Volunteer and a Field Supervisor at
UNDP Millennium Villages Project, Bonsaaso-Ghana Cluster.
Mr. Divine Odame Appiah Holds a Master of Philosophy in Geography and Resource
Development from the University of Ghana, and a Master of Science in Environmental
Engineering and Sustainable Infrastructure from the Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Rural Development at the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. His research interests are
in the areas of Physical Geography and Environmental Management, with special reference
to climate change, land use and environmental modelling, with Remote Sensing and
Geographic Information System RS/GIS).