Challenges Hindering Sustainability Among Smallholder Farmers in the Rice Production Supply Chain of Northern Ghana

This study investigates the challenges hindering sustainability within the rice production supply chain in Northern Ghana. It identifies the economic, social, and environmental barriers impacting smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of rice production in the region. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 300 farmers across five key districts, revealing significant constraints, including limited mechanisation, inadequate credit access, market instability, labour shortages, gender disparities, and unsustainable environmental practices. The study highlights the interplay between these challenges, emphasising how economic constraints, such as poor market infrastructure and low mechanisation, reduce profitability and investment capacity. Social issues, including labour shortages and reliance on child labour, undermine community resilience, while environmental challenges, such as over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture and excessive fertiliser use, degrade the ecosystem. Key recommendations include enhancing mechanisation, promoting gender equity, expanding access to affordable credit, and fostering sustainable farming practices, such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and organic fertiliser use. By holistically addressing these barriers, stakeholders can enhance the resilience and sustainability of Northern Ghana’s rice supply chain, ensuring food security and rural economic development.