Assessing the Awareness, Willingness and Barriers to Pasture Cultivation Among Urban and Peri-Urban Cattle Farmers in Selected Communities of the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

A total of 105 respondents were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge of and willingness to cultivate pasture in seven selected communities across two districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, chosen on the basis of their increasing number of cattle farmers. Variables considered in the survey included respondents' demographic characteristics, farm operations, management systems, feedstuff availability, and knowledge of feeding improved pasture. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 20, and the results were presented as frequency and percentage tables and bar charts. Correlation tests were performed on selected variables. Results of the analysis revealed that 99% of farmers were male, and the majority were in the 21 to 30-year age bracket. The common feedstuffs used by farmers in the study area include grass, kitchen waste, cassava peels, crop residues, and agro-industrial by-products. The major challenge faced by the respondents was shortages of feed and a lack of fodder conservation techniques. The majority of respondents (75.7%) were unaware of improved fodder, and 92.4% had never attended any training on fodder and pasture development, even though 99% confirmed their readiness to go into pasture development when planting materials are made available. Therefore, integrating pasture establishment and improved forage technology into the farming system, along with adequate training in fodder conservation, can support farmers in different ways.

Keywords: Improved forage, constraint, feed resource