ACCESSIBILITY AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

The report examines the relationship between agricultural development and accessibility in the ashanti region of Ghana. A wide variety of factors are identified that can influence agricultural development in the region and some of the problems of its measurement are highlighted. Using a cross sectional framework of analysis, data was collected from 33 villages (all but two with vehicle access) in the Ashanti region of Ghana located between 8 and 102 km from the regional capital, Kumasi. By comparing a number of development parameters and the transport costs of moving farm produce between each village and Kumasi (and also between each village and its respective district centre) the link between accessibility and agricultural development was investigated. Within the range of accessibility considered little evidence was found to indicate that market agriculture was promoted directly by accessibility. However, loan finance was easier to obtain the nearer the farmer lived to Kumasi. Overall there is evidence to suggest that the most accessible villages tended to concentrate more on non agricultural activities (such as rural industry and the provision of services, including marketing) while the less accessible villages concentrated rather more on agriculture. The study supports the view that where road investment can induce only a small change in transport costs then little impact on agricultural development may be expected. (Author/TRRL)