From practices to plates: sustainable agricultural practices and food self-sufficiency among farm households in Ghana

Introduction This study examines the role of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) in enhancing food self-sufficiency (FSS) among farm households in northern Ghana. Improving FSS remains critical in the context of climate variability, resource constraints, and persistent food insecurity in the region. Methods The study utilizes panel data from farm household surveys conducted between the 2019/2020 and 2023/2024 agricultural seasons, complemented by geospatial data on climate, rainfall, and infrastructure. To address non-random treatment allocation and heterogeneity in treatment effects, the analysis applies Multinomial Propensity Score (MPS) and Multinomial Endogenous Treatment (MET) models. Food self-sufficiency is measured in kilogram units of maize equivalent. Results The findings indicate that the adoption of SAPs significantly improves FSS among farm households. Stronger positive effects are observed for the use of animal manure and combinations of complementary practices. The results further reveal substantial heterogeneity in treatment effects across the three regions of northern Ghana. Estimates from the MET model confirm the robustness of these findings and underscore the importance of correcting for selection bias. Discussion The results suggest that integrated and complementary SAP packages yield greater improvements in FSS than single practices, highlighting the importance of promoting bundled interventions. These findings provide policy-relevant insights for designing targeted agricultural interventions that enhance resilience and food security among smallholder farmers.