Enhancing economic security among small-scale poultry farmers through entrepreneurship and contract farming : a study for bf farm

Abstract

Economic securities of Ghanaian farmers; in context (Ghanaian poultry farmers) are gradually becoming a predominant subject of consideration with deliberate target-oriented actions in the country’s entrepreneurial and agricultural societies. There have been indications of this in literature on small and large scale agricultural poultry farming studies in Ghana. The thesis investigates reviewed studies, summarizes existing literature and presents case findings on how economic well-being of both Ghanaian SMEs and poultry farmers can be enhanced through proposed extensive entrepreneurship and modern agricultural practices such as the incorporation of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) in farming activities, training of farmers in appropriate farming techniques, investments (capital inputs) and good managerial decision making and bookkeeping practices which will equip farmers with relevant experiences that will influence them on incorporating the above activities to ensure economic growth . The thesis purposed to highlight the research needs and the strategies targeted towards aiding the adoption of modern poultry farming techniques by Ghanaian small-scale farmers, which will consequently contribute to the economic growth, maintenance and improvement of managerial and entrepreneurial activities between the major players through contract farming. Three sub-objectives are designed to help achieve the stated aim for the thesis. They include: finding out how contract farming enhances economic growth and stability and the importance of entrepreneurship in contract farming among small scale poultry farming, to investigate how hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) can be incorporated into poultry farms to enhance economic growth, and to find the best strategic modus operandi in training farmers to adopting better ways in poultry farming and using the HACCP at all stages in poultry farming. The objective of the thesis is to come out with strategies that will help small-scale farmers and community (rural) farmers to adopt to modern poultry farm practices and enhance and maintain economic growth through effective managerial practices, entrepreneurship and contract farming. The study finds that contract farming adopted and examined through the case under study is purposefully favourable in attaining alternative desirable economic growth among small-scale farmers, with spiral developmental effects on both the agricultural and entrepreneurial societies in Ghana. The implication of the findings of the thesis reflects that without both concept of entrepreneurship and contract farming, the objective of obtaining economic growth cannot be realized since the lack of supply for poultry birds indicates a lower sales revenue, also in the light of high demand of live poultry birds from processing companies, inappropriate farming techniques, lack of entrepreneurial and managerial decision making skills and the lack of investment will make it difficult to enhanced economic growth. The concept of enhancing economic growth through contract farming and entrepreneurship was initiated and developed by me and supported by Bank X towards the purpose of enhancing economic growth through contract farming and contract farming. The project in the case study and that of the thesis are the same therefore the terms thesis project and project is used interchangeably.