A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A comparison of statistical and participatory clustering of smallholder farming systems – A case study in Northern Ghana
Abstract Typologies are often used to understand and capture smallholder farming system heterogeneity, and may be derived using different approaches and methods. This article aims to compare a quantitative, statistical typology based on a survey dataset and multivariate analysis, with a qualitative participatory typology based on informal group sessions and activities with local stakeholders from three communities in Northern Ghana. The statistical typology resulted in six clusters, with farm households categorized on the basis of their structural (resource endowment)- and functional (production objectives/livelihood strategies) characteristics. The participatory typology identified five farm types, based primarily on endowment (farm size, income investment), gender and age-related criteria. While the entire household was adopted as the unit of analysis of the statistical typology, the participatory typology provided a more nuanced differentiation by grouping individual farmers; with possibly several farmer types per household (e.g. ‘small’ and ‘female farmers’) as well as ‘farm-less’ individuals as a result. Other sources of dissimilarity which contributed to limited overlap between the typologies included changes that occurred in the communities between the two data collection efforts and inaccuracies in the data. The underlying causes of the latter seemed to mainly relate to socio-cultural issues that distorted information collection in both typologies; including power and status differences between both the researchers and farmers, as well as the farmers themselves. We conclude that although statistical techniques warrant objectivity and reproducibility in the analysis, the complexity of data collection and representation of the local reality might limit their effectiveness in selection of farms, innovation targeting and out-scaling in R4D projects. In addition, while participatory typologies offer a more contextualized representation of heterogeneity, their accuracy can still be compromised by socio-cultural constraints. Therefore, we recommend making effective use of the advantages offered by each approach by applying them in a complementary manner.
Highlights We compare a statistical and participatory approach to farm typology construction. The statistical and participatory typologies show six and five types respectively. Both systems of types describe gradients of resource endowment. Dissimilarity is mainly due to different units of analysis and data inaccuracy. Sociocultural issues tend to distort data collection differently in both typologies.
A comparison of statistical and participatory clustering of smallholder farming systems – A case study in Northern Ghana
Abstract Typologies are often used to understand and capture smallholder farming system heterogeneity, and may be derived using different approaches and methods. This article aims to compare a quantitative, statistical typology based on a survey dataset and multivariate analysis, with a qualitative participatory typology based on informal group sessions and activities with local stakeholders from three communities in Northern Ghana. The statistical typology resulted in six clusters, with farm households categorized on the basis of their structural (resource endowment)- and functional (production objectives/livelihood strategies) characteristics. The participatory typology identified five farm types, based primarily on endowment (farm size, income investment), gender and age-related criteria. While the entire household was adopted as the unit of analysis of the statistical typology, the participatory typology provided a more nuanced differentiation by grouping individual farmers; with possibly several farmer types per household (e.g. ‘small’ and ‘female farmers’) as well as ‘farm-less’ individuals as a result. Other sources of dissimilarity which contributed to limited overlap between the typologies included changes that occurred in the communities between the two data collection efforts and inaccuracies in the data. The underlying causes of the latter seemed to mainly relate to socio-cultural issues that distorted information collection in both typologies; including power and status differences between both the researchers and farmers, as well as the farmers themselves. We conclude that although statistical techniques warrant objectivity and reproducibility in the analysis, the complexity of data collection and representation of the local reality might limit their effectiveness in selection of farms, innovation targeting and out-scaling in R4D projects. In addition, while participatory typologies offer a more contextualized representation of heterogeneity, their accuracy can still be compromised by socio-cultural constraints. Therefore, we recommend making effective use of the advantages offered by each approach by applying them in a complementary manner.
Highlights We compare a statistical and participatory approach to farm typology construction. The statistical and participatory typologies show six and five types respectively. Both systems of types describe gradients of resource endowment. Dissimilarity is mainly due to different units of analysis and data inaccuracy. Sociocultural issues tend to distort data collection differently in both typologies.
A comparison of statistical and participatory clustering of smallholder farming systems – A case study in Northern Ghana
Kuivanen, K.S. (author) / Michalscheck, M. (author) / Descheemaeker, K. (author) / Adjei-Nsiah, S. (author) / Mellon-Bedi, S. (author) / Groot, J.C.J. (author) / Alvarez, S. (author)
Journal of Rural Studies ; 45 ; 184-198
2016-03-29
15 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Evidence of Climate Change Coping and Adaptation Practices by Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana
DOAJ | 2021
|Renewable Energy Use in Smallholder Farming Systems: A Case Study in Tafresh Township of Iran
DOAJ | 2010
|The adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to climate change in the Northern Region of Ghana
DOAJ | 2017
|