Exploring sustainable development within rural regions in Ghana

A rural web approach

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12308012
AutoresGodfred Addai (0000-0002-0411-8044, School of Social Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia, autor correspondente), Jungho Suh (0000-0002-9580-6327, School of Social Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia), Douglas Bardsley (0000-0001-7688-2386, School of Social Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia), Guy M Robinson (0000-0003-1652-6456, The University of Adelaide), Guy Robinson (0000-0002-6594-2408, School of Social Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia), Lawrence Guodaar (0000-0003-3227-6709, Department of Geography and Rural Development Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana)
Ano2024
Volume32
Fascículo4
Páginas3890-3907
Data de publicação2024-01-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSustainable Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0968-0802 • E-ISSN: 1099-1719
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/sd.2887
OpenAlexW4390655353
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas8
Referências citadas50

Sustainable development involves multi‐level, multi‐actor and multi‐faceted processes and interrelations for which, ideally, comprehensive theoretical frameworks are required to understand the nature, dynamics and heterogeneity of changes generating greater sustainability in rural areas. Studies have utilised the rural web framework to explain these processes and interactions, but its application is lacking in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study addresses the gap in the literature by using the framework to (1) explore sustainable development indicators and (2) evaluate their socioeconomic determinants based on a questionnaire survey with data collected from 600 rural households in Ghana. Additionally, formal interviews were conducted with 60 participants, comprising village leaders, not‐for‐profit organisations and officers from municipal assemblies. This research shows that endogeneity, novelty production, and sustainability indicators describe rural regions as agriculturally diversified economies. Several factors contribute significantly to agricultural diversification, including social relationships, social groups, market participation, and the presence of migrants. These findings have implications for achieving two of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 1 (zero poverty) and SDG 2 (zero hunger), as they highlight the benefits of social and economic linkages between rural and urban areas within the context of agricultural production, exchange of resources and the mitigation of accessibility barriers to resources. We suggest that policies seeking to increase agricultural diversification, food security and achieve sustainable rural development should strengthen social relationships and institutional structures, increase market opportunities, assist farmers with organic certifications and bridge the rural–urban development gap

Agriculture · Business · Diversification (marketing strategy · Economic growth · Economics · Food security · Geography · Political science · Poverty · Rural development · Rural economics · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Agricultural Innovations and Practices · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Organic Food and Agriculture · Marketing