Conflict Exposure and Agricultural Diversification in Ghana

Edward Martey, Prince M. Etwire, Collins Asante-Addo and Mustapha M. Suraj

Journal of Development Studies, 2025, vol. 61, issue 12, 1944-1967

Abstract: This study employed nationally-representative household survey data alongside geo-coded conflict data to investigate the relationship between conflict and agricultural diversification in Ghana. Using distance to conflict locations as an instrument, our analysis provides robust evidence indicating that households situated closer to areas with heightened conflict levels experience a more pronounced decline in both crop and livestock diversification compared to those in districts with lower conflict levels. These findings persist across various models and conceptualizations of crop and livestock diversification. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that broad geographical regions with conflict zones exhibit substantial reductions in crop and livestock diversification. Furthermore, the correlation between conflict intensity and agricultural diversification is particularly noticeable in households headed by males, those with children, and those located in Southern Ghana. Our results suggest that reductions in crop and livestock diversification due to conflict exposure is mediated significantly by area under cultivation and asset accumulation. Consequently, our study underscores the importance of addressing conflict to bolster the resilience and risk-mitigation strategies of farming households.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2025.2504413

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