Market Potential of Forage Cultivation in Northern Ghana

Livestock farmers and traders in the Northern region of Ghana have challenges in getting quality and enough feed. These stem from the long dry season characterized by bushfires, monomodal rainy season, rapid residential development in peri-urban areas and usage of few opened spaces between houses for gardening. This study assessed willingness to pay for cultivated forage in Ghana by using cross-sectional data and a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. The factors influencing the willingness to pay bids were analysed using an interval regression model. The study revealed that 93.6% of the respondents were willing to pay for cultivated forage. The average willingness to pay amount for Pigeon pea is relatively higher than that of Napier grass. Livestock farmers had a relatively higher willingness to pay amount than their counterpart livestock traders. From the study, having a bank account, access to veterinary services, satisfaction with the livestock business, training on livestock production or marketing and the value of livestock owned increase the willingness to pay probability. The study, therefore, recommends that unlike livestock farmers, the traders should be sensitized more about the nutritive value of forage so as to raise their willingness to pay for forage. Since there are market potentials for cultivated forage, rural folks especially those in peri-urban areas should take forage cultivation as a commercial activity. Forage production should be included as a package in the rearing for food and jobs programme that the government is implementing so as to create jobs for the youth.