Implication of educational reforms on agrarian labour: The case of free SHS on maize farms in Ghana

This paper examined how Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy affects labour availability on maize farms in Ghana. Using survey data from 550 maize farming households, the study employed descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model to construct a measure of the severity of labour constraints and to classify maize farming households along a continuum from severe to low labour scarcity. The analysis further explored how household and farm characteristics influence the severity of labour shortages during critical periods of the production cycle. The research also identifies other key causes of labour severity among maize farming households. The results revealed a significant labour scarcity challenge for maize farmers, particularly during planting and harvesting periods, due to increased student enrolment under the free SHS. The Tobit regression analysis indicated that key socio-economic factors, such as household size, farm size, the number of household members enrolled in SHS, and access to extension services, significantly influence the severity of labour scarcity among maize farming households. These findings suggest that education reforms that expand secondary enrolment can unintentionally reduce the supply of family labour to smallholder agriculture. The findings underscore the potential of mechanization and labour-efficient technologies as interventions to alleviate the impact of labour scarcity on agricultural production.