Agricultural Labor Structures: Interlinking Agricultural Transformation with Local Agricultural Labor Structures in Ghana

Abstract: Agricultural transformation is regarded as a prerequisite for economic growth and development to be sustainable in the long run. However, agricultural workers are among the most disadvantaged workers as well as they are a distinct occupational group that forms an important part of sustainable agricultural development in terms of skills, knowledge, and experience. This paper explores how the ongoing agricultural transformation of cassava farms in the Volta and Ashanti regions of Ghana affects agricultural labor structures. The study follows an explorative qualitative research design where 41 semi-structured interviews with cassava stakeholders are conducted in the Volta and Ashanti regions. The study finds that the agricultural transformation has affected labor structures through increased demand for labor, new employment opportunities through commercialization, and increased levels of migration. Casual work continues to be the most common type of employment on farms and in factories, which deprives workers of job security and formal written contracts. Meanwhile, the wages for farm and factory workers are close to the national minimum wage, which is not sufficient to cover standard living costs.