Abstract:
The issue of owner re-possession of land poses serious threat among migrant farmers,
as it exposes them to various vulnerabilities. A mixed method approach research was
conducted in three communities, an urban and two peri-urban areas-Oda, Asene and
Aboabo. Two hundred and sixty respondents were selected using stratified-random
sample technique and administered with questionnaire in the three communities.
Twenty-one key informants were purposively selected and interviewed, and two focus
group discussions were conducted in the communities. The sustainable livelihood
approach was adapted to study livelihood assets, vulnerabilities, alternative livelihood
strategies and livelihood outcomes of the farmers. The main findings of the research
include: land owners re-possessing their lands for housing, industries, banking,
schools, recreation and hospitality; migrant farmers become expose to economic and
social vulnerabilities as a result of land re-possession; alternative livelihood strategies
such as backyard garden, petty trading, livestock rearing and remittances as means of
improving livelihood and to ameliorate vulnerability problems; by generating income,
increasing well-being, reducing vulnerability and ensuring food security. The study
therefore concludes, based on the research findings, that poor persons affected by
economic and social vulnerabilities, devise alternative livelihood strategies to improve
and sustain lives. Based on the research findings, the study recommends that migrant
farmers should have their agriculture lands registered to cover all contractual
agreement with land owners in order to have secured land for their farming activities.
Also, the young farmers should engage in skilled-learning jobs such as tailoring,
dressmaking and basketry as alternative jobs in order to reduce unemployment rate in
the study communities.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Geography Education,
Faculty of Social Sciences, submitted to the School
of Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Geography Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba
DECEMBER, 2020