Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges

Martin Amoah; Joseph Asomani; Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu; Frank Asafuah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

| Peer-Reviewed

Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges

Martin Amoah, Joseph Asomani, Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu, Frank Asafuah

Published in American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 16 December 2016 Accepted: 3 January 2017 Published: 19 January 2017

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

This study investigated the gender-based differences in the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo in Ghana, the opportunities available to rural and urban poor communities engaged in the value chain of rattan and bamboo resource and the challenges they face in their quest to earn a living from the industry. Using snowball sampling, 106 actors in the value chain of the industry were sampled from rural and urban communities where rattan and bamboo are harvested, processed and marketed. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were the main data collection tools. The results showed that even though males dominate the value chain, females play two important roles: harvesting and supplying of raw rattan and bamboo to processors. Whereas rural males and females are mostly engaged in the harvesting of the resource their urban counterparts are engaged in the processing and marketing of products from the resource. The limited role played by women in the value chain was partly due to their low self-efficacy resulting from gender stereotype and their traditional roles in the home. Those involved in all the stages of the value chain reported daily income of about USD8.00 and this diminishes to 19.8%, 23%, and 36% of it for harvesters, processors and marketers, respectively. The amount accrued to harvesters was found to be lower than the average daily wage of hired labour, suggesting that the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo has not improved the economic status of rural people. Economics of scale and product quality were the main inhibiting factors for successful commercialisation of the resource. Policy interventions aimed at increasing rural participation in the value chain should include removal of gender stigmatization, providing rural artisans with technical and marketing support, and establishing cottage industry as part of effort to integrating rural businesses communities’ into local tourism. International visibility of rattan and bamboo industry in Ghana, which thus far has remained poor, requires urgent attention from governmental and non-governmental agencies.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
Page(s)	1-11
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Value Chain, Low Self-Efficacy, Gender Stereotype, Economics of Scale, Product Quality

References

[1]	Ruiz-Pérez, M, and Arnold, J. E. M. 1996. Current issues in non-timber forest products research. Bogor, Indonesia. Center for International Forestry. 259p.
[2]	Neumann, R. P., and Hirsch, E. 2000. Commercialisation of Non-Timber Forest products: Rev. Anal. Res., CIFOR. 175p.
[3]	Arnold, J. E. M. and Ruiz-Pérez, M. 2001. Can non-timber forest products match tropical forest conservation and development objectives? Ecological Economics 39 (3): 437-447.
[4]	Ambrose-Oji, B. 2003. The contribution of NTFPs to the livelihoods of the ‘forest poor’: evidence from the tropical forest zone of South West Cameron. Int. Forestry Rev. 5 (2): 106-117.
[5]	Peters, C. M., Gentry, A. H. and Mendelson, R. O. 1989. Valuation of an Amazonian rainforest. Nature 339: 655-656.
[6]	Sunderland, T. and Ndoye, O. 2004. Forest products, Livelihoods and Conservation: Case Stud. Non-Timber For. Products Syst. Vol. 2- Africa. CIFOR.
[7]	Hossain, M. F., Islam, M. A., and Numan, S. M.2015. Multi Purpose Uses of Bamboo Plants: A Review Paper. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences, ISSN 2278 – 3202
[8]	Dove, M. R. 1993. A revisionists view of deforestation and development. Environmental Conservation20: 17-24.
[9]	Southgate, D., Ritchie, M. C. and Canelos, P. S. 1996. Can tropical forest be saved by harvesting non-timber forest products? CSERGE Working paper GEC96-02. 19p.
[10]	Shackleton, S. E. 2006. The significance of the local trade in natural resource products for livelihoods and poverty alleviation in South Africa. PhD Thesis.
[11]	Shackleton, C. M. and Schackleton, S 2006. Household wealth status and natural resource use in the Kat River valley, South Africa. Ecol. Econ. 57 (2): 306-317.
[12]	Shackleton, S., Campbell, B., Lotz-Sisitka, H. and Shackleton, C. 2008. Links between the local Trade in natural products, livelihoods and Poverty Alleviation in a Semi-Arid Region of South Africa. World Development 36 (3): 503-526.
[13]	Khanal, M. 2015. Importance of Bamboo in Poors’ Livelihood in Nepal. 10th World Bamboo Congress, Korea. Proceedings of a meeting held 17-22 September 2015, Damyang, Korea.
[14]	Marshall, E., Newton, A. C., and Schreckenberg, K. 2003. Commercialsation of non-timber forest products: First steps in analyzing the factors influencing success. Int. Forest. Rev. 5 (2): 128-137.
[15]	Lynser, M. B.; Tiwari, B. K.; Nongbri, B.; Kharlyngdoh, E. 2015. Bamboo Mat Making and its Contribution to the Rural Livelihood of Women in South Meghalaya, India. Bamboo Science & Culture. 2015, Vol. 28 Issue 1: 23-31. 9p.
[16]	Facolner, J. 1992. Non-timber forest products in Southern Ghana. A Summary Report. ODA Forestry Natural Res. Inst. 235p.
[17]	Tabi-Gyansah, E. 2001. Analysis of the spatial distribution of NTFPs in the tropical forest of Ghana. ETERN News 32: 21-22.
[18]	Creswell, J. W. 2009. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Approaches. 3rd Ed. London: SAGE.
[19]	Denscombe, M 2008. Communities of practice: a research paradigm for the mixed methods approach. J. Mixed Methods Res.2 (3): 270-283.
[20]	Cohen, L, Manion, L, Morrison, K 2011. Research methods in Education. 7th Ed. London: Routledge.
[21]	Heckathorn, D. D. 1997. Respondent-driven sampling: a new approach to the study of hidden populations, Social Problems, 44 (2): 174-199.
[22]	Oteng-Amoako, A., DarkoObiri, B., Britwum, S., Afful-Mensah, J. K., Asiedu, J. and Ebanyenle, E. 2000. A study of the production-to-consumption system of rattan in Ghana. For. Res. Inst. Ghana/ Int. Network for Bamboo and Rattan.
[23]	Patton, M. Q. 2002. Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods. 3rd Ed. London: SAGE.
[24]	Shackleton, S., Paumgarten, F., Kassa, H., Husselman, M. and Zida, M. 2011. Opportunities for enhancing empowerment in the value chains of three African non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Int. Forest. Rev. 13 (2): 136-151.
[25]	Ella, A. B. 2004. Sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products: the role of gender in the Philippines. Proc. regional workshop for poverty reduction. Beijing, China. 1-2 September, 2003. FAO Corporate Document Repository. http://www.fao.org.docrep. Accessed on: 12/6/2012.
[26]	Wissinki, D. 1996. Galip (Canariumindicum) as a cash crop in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea: experiences of the Kandrian Gloucester integrated development project. In: Stevens MC, Bourke RM, Evans BR (eds). South Pacific Indigenous Nuts, 84-91. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia.
[27]	Anokye, R., Bakar, E. S., Ratnasingam, N., and Bakar, N. N. 2016. The Effects of Nodes and Resin on the Mechanical properties of Laminated Bamboo Timber produced from GigantochloaScortechinii. Construction and Building Materials 105: 285 – 290.
[28]	TeVelde, D. W., Rushton, J., Schrenkenberg, K., Marshall, E., Edouard, F., Newton, A. and Arancibia, E. 2006. Entrepreneurship in value chains of non-timber forest products. For. Policy and Economics 8: 725-741.
[29]	Belcher, B. and Schreckenberg, K. 2007. Commercialisation of Non-Timber Forest Products: A reality check. Dev. Policy Rev. 25(13).
[30]	Byron, N. and Arnold, M. 1999. What futures for the people of the tropical forests? World Development. 27 (5): 789-805.
[31]	Adu-Anning, C. 2004. The rattan industry in the Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana. In: Sunderland, T., Ndoye, O. (eds). Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation. Case Studies of NTFPs systems. Vol.2-Africa. CIFOR.
[32]	Ahenkan, A. and Boon, E. 2010. Assessing the Impact of Forest policies and Strategies on Promoting the Development of Non-Timber Forest products in Ghana. J. Biodiversity 1 (2): 85-102.
[33]	Widayati, A., Jone, S. and Carlisle, B. 2010. Accessibility Factors and Conservation Forest Designation Affecting Rattan Cane Harvesting in Lambusango Forest, Buton, Indonesia. Hum Ecol. 38: 731-746.
[34]	Evans B. R. 2000 (eds). South Pacific Indigenous Nuts, 84-91. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia.
[35]	Amoah M. et. al. Unpublished.
[36]	Osei-Tutu, P., Nketiah, S. K., Kyere, B. and Owusu-Ansah, M. 2012. Small and medium Forest Enterprises in Ghana. Sourcebook on enterprise characteristics, activity centres, product markets, support institutions and service providers. IIED Small and Medium Forest Enterprise Series No. 28. Tropenbos International and International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK. 55p.
[37]	Obiri, B. D. and Oteng-Amoako, A. A. 2007. Towards a sustainable development of the bamboo industry in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Forestry. 21 & 22: 14-27.
[38]	Skills Development Fund. 2012. SDF awards to four organisations. http://www.sdfghana.org/new/.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Martin Amoah, Joseph Asomani, Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu, Frank Asafuah. (2017). Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Martin Amoah; Joseph Asomani; Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu; Frank Asafuah. Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. Am. J. Environ. Resour. Econ. 2017, 2(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Martin Amoah, Joseph Asomani, Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu, Frank Asafuah. Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. Am J Environ Resour Econ. 2017;2(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11,
  author = {Martin Amoah and Joseph Asomani and Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu and Frank Asafuah},
  title = {Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajere.20170201.11},
  abstract = {This study investigated the gender-based differences in the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo in Ghana, the opportunities available to rural and urban poor communities engaged in the value chain of rattan and bamboo resource and the challenges they face in their quest to earn a living from the industry. Using snowball sampling, 106 actors in the value chain of the industry were sampled from rural and urban communities where rattan and bamboo are harvested, processed and marketed. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were the main data collection tools. The results showed that even though males dominate the value chain, females play two important roles: harvesting and supplying of raw rattan and bamboo to processors. Whereas rural males and females are mostly engaged in the harvesting of the resource their urban counterparts are engaged in the processing and marketing of products from the resource. The limited role played by women in the value chain was partly due to their low self-efficacy resulting from gender stereotype and their traditional roles in the home. Those involved in all the stages of the value chain reported daily income of about USD8.00 and this diminishes to 19.8%, 23%, and 36% of it for harvesters, processors and marketers, respectively. The amount accrued to harvesters was found to be lower than the average daily wage of hired labour, suggesting that the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo has not improved the economic status of rural people. Economics of scale and product quality were the main inhibiting factors for successful commercialisation of the resource. Policy interventions aimed at increasing rural participation in the value chain should include removal of gender stigmatization, providing rural artisans with technical and marketing support, and establishing cottage industry as part of effort to integrating rural businesses communities’ into local tourism. International visibility of rattan and bamboo industry in Ghana, which thus far has remained poor, requires urgent attention from governmental and non-governmental agencies.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges
AU  - Martin Amoah
AU  - Joseph Asomani
AU  - Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu
AU  - Frank Asafuah
Y1  - 2017/01/19
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
T2  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JF  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JO  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
AB  - This study investigated the gender-based differences in the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo in Ghana, the opportunities available to rural and urban poor communities engaged in the value chain of rattan and bamboo resource and the challenges they face in their quest to earn a living from the industry. Using snowball sampling, 106 actors in the value chain of the industry were sampled from rural and urban communities where rattan and bamboo are harvested, processed and marketed. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were the main data collection tools. The results showed that even though males dominate the value chain, females play two important roles: harvesting and supplying of raw rattan and bamboo to processors. Whereas rural males and females are mostly engaged in the harvesting of the resource their urban counterparts are engaged in the processing and marketing of products from the resource. The limited role played by women in the value chain was partly due to their low self-efficacy resulting from gender stereotype and their traditional roles in the home. Those involved in all the stages of the value chain reported daily income of about USD8.00 and this diminishes to 19.8%, 23%, and 36% of it for harvesters, processors and marketers, respectively. The amount accrued to harvesters was found to be lower than the average daily wage of hired labour, suggesting that the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo has not improved the economic status of rural people. Economics of scale and product quality were the main inhibiting factors for successful commercialisation of the resource. Policy interventions aimed at increasing rural participation in the value chain should include removal of gender stigmatization, providing rural artisans with technical and marketing support, and establishing cottage industry as part of effort to integrating rural businesses communities’ into local tourism. International visibility of rattan and bamboo industry in Ghana, which thus far has remained poor, requires urgent attention from governmental and non-governmental agencies.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Martin Amoah

Department of Construction and Wood, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana
Joseph Asomani

Department of Construction and Wood, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana
Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu

Department of Construction and Wood, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana
Frank Asafuah

Department of Construction and Wood, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Martin Amoah, Joseph Asomani, Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu, Frank Asafuah. (2017). Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics, 2(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Martin Amoah; Joseph Asomani; Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu; Frank Asafuah. Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. Am. J. Environ. Resour. Econ. 2017, 2(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Martin Amoah, Joseph Asomani, Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu, Frank Asafuah. Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges. Am J Environ Resour Econ. 2017;2(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11,
  author = {Martin Amoah and Joseph Asomani and Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu and Frank Asafuah},
  title = {Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajere.20170201.11},
  abstract = {This study investigated the gender-based differences in the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo in Ghana, the opportunities available to rural and urban poor communities engaged in the value chain of rattan and bamboo resource and the challenges they face in their quest to earn a living from the industry. Using snowball sampling, 106 actors in the value chain of the industry were sampled from rural and urban communities where rattan and bamboo are harvested, processed and marketed. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were the main data collection tools. The results showed that even though males dominate the value chain, females play two important roles: harvesting and supplying of raw rattan and bamboo to processors. Whereas rural males and females are mostly engaged in the harvesting of the resource their urban counterparts are engaged in the processing and marketing of products from the resource. The limited role played by women in the value chain was partly due to their low self-efficacy resulting from gender stereotype and their traditional roles in the home. Those involved in all the stages of the value chain reported daily income of about USD8.00 and this diminishes to 19.8%, 23%, and 36% of it for harvesters, processors and marketers, respectively. The amount accrued to harvesters was found to be lower than the average daily wage of hired labour, suggesting that the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo has not improved the economic status of rural people. Economics of scale and product quality were the main inhibiting factors for successful commercialisation of the resource. Policy interventions aimed at increasing rural participation in the value chain should include removal of gender stigmatization, providing rural artisans with technical and marketing support, and establishing cottage industry as part of effort to integrating rural businesses communities’ into local tourism. International visibility of rattan and bamboo industry in Ghana, which thus far has remained poor, requires urgent attention from governmental and non-governmental agencies.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Gender-Based Differences in the Commercialisation of Rattan and Bamboo as Livelihood Support Option for Rural and Urban Poor in Ghana: Opportunities and Challenges
AU  - Martin Amoah
AU  - Joseph Asomani
AU  - Raphael Kwasi Dzakpasu
AU  - Frank Asafuah
Y1  - 2017/01/19
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
T2  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JF  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
JO  - American Journal of Environmental and Resource Economics
SP  - 1
EP  - 11
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-787X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajere.20170201.11
AB  - This study investigated the gender-based differences in the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo in Ghana, the opportunities available to rural and urban poor communities engaged in the value chain of rattan and bamboo resource and the challenges they face in their quest to earn a living from the industry. Using snowball sampling, 106 actors in the value chain of the industry were sampled from rural and urban communities where rattan and bamboo are harvested, processed and marketed. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were the main data collection tools. The results showed that even though males dominate the value chain, females play two important roles: harvesting and supplying of raw rattan and bamboo to processors. Whereas rural males and females are mostly engaged in the harvesting of the resource their urban counterparts are engaged in the processing and marketing of products from the resource. The limited role played by women in the value chain was partly due to their low self-efficacy resulting from gender stereotype and their traditional roles in the home. Those involved in all the stages of the value chain reported daily income of about USD8.00 and this diminishes to 19.8%, 23%, and 36% of it for harvesters, processors and marketers, respectively. The amount accrued to harvesters was found to be lower than the average daily wage of hired labour, suggesting that the commercialisation of rattan and bamboo has not improved the economic status of rural people. Economics of scale and product quality were the main inhibiting factors for successful commercialisation of the resource. Policy interventions aimed at increasing rural participation in the value chain should include removal of gender stigmatization, providing rural artisans with technical and marketing support, and establishing cottage industry as part of effort to integrating rural businesses communities’ into local tourism. International visibility of rattan and bamboo industry in Ghana, which thus far has remained poor, requires urgent attention from governmental and non-governmental agencies.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download