A comparison of statistical and participatory clustering of smallholder farming systems: a case study in Northern Ghana

Abstract

Typologies are often used to understand and capture smallholder farming system heterogeneity, and may be derived using different approaches and methods. This article aims to compare a quantitative, statistical typology based on a survey dataset and multivariate analysis, with a qualitative participatory typology based on informal group sessions and activities with local stakeholders from 3 communities in Northern Ghana. This is an output from the ‘Integrated assessment of the determinants of the maize yield gap in Sub-Saharan Africa: towards farm innovation and enabling policies’ project led by the University of Wageningen