Food quality and safety standards compliance in Ghana

What is it about?

International private food quality and safety standards pose a major challenge to smallholder farmers in developing countries. This has attributed to decline in smallholder participation in international food trade. This paper examines the adherence, constraints and key factors associated with Global working group for Good Agricultural Practice (GlobalGAP) Standard among smallholder pineapple farmers in Ghana

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Why is it important?

Developing countries smallholder farmers often find it challenging to comply with international private food standards particularly GlobalGAP standard as a result of capital and other logistical constraints. However, food safety cannot be compromised amidst these challenges. This study empirically examines the adherence, constraints and key factors associated with GlobalGAP Standard compliance. Findings of the study show that compliant farmers' rate of adherence with standard is about 90 percent which is below the minor must compliant rate of 95 percent. Factors found to positively influence farmers' compliance decision are number of pineapple farms, access to off-farm income, access to extension services and market information. However compliance is negatively influenced by age.

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