Freda Elikplim Asem

Academic Qualifications
1. PhD Development Studies, University of Ghana, 2013
2. MSc. Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Alberta, 2006
3. BSc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics), University of Ghana, 2001.

Research interest
My research interests include agribusiness with focus on marketing and agricultural value chains, agricultural development and welfare of smallholder farmers.

Current research/project(s)
Value Chain Analyses and Climate Variability of Sustainable Crop and Fish Farming in Ghana.  The overall objective of the project is to support the efforts in ensuring efficient and sustainable agriculture efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the income of all actors in agricultural value chains by carrying out detailed value chain analyses, strengthening existing farmer based organizations and establishing an agribusiness incubation centre.

Past research projects
Production and Processing of pineapples by women smallholder farmers in the Akwapim-South District of Ghana.
This is a project sponsored by the Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian High Commission, Ghana. The project is specifically directed to provide support to the Apantam-Attakrom Amanfro Women Pineapple Farmers Group through the production and processing of the Smooth Cayenne pineapple variety.
Duration: January 2018 – June 2019

Awards
1. 2017 – Date:  Member of ESDA (Education for Sustainable Development in Africa) Next Generation of Researchers. An Inter-University Collaborative Initiative of the United Nations University.
2. 2016:  Australia Awards Scholarship for Short Course in Agribusiness at the Center for International Development, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
3. 2014 – 2016:  African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellow, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
4. 2011 – 2013:  German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship for Doctoral Studies at ISSER, University of Ghana.
5. 2005:  Murray and Pauline Hawkins Research Bursary, University of Alberta, Canada.

Recent publications
1. Yiran, G.A,  A. Ablo, F. E. Asem (2020) “Urbanisation and Domestic energy trends: Analysis of household energy consumption patterns in relation land-use change in Peri-urban Accra, Ghana” Land Use Policy Volume 99, December 2020, 105047.
2. Yiran, G.A,  A. Ablo, F. E. Asem & G. Owusu (2020). Urban Sprawl in sub-Saharan Africa: A review of the literature in selected countries. Ghana Journal of Geography Vol. 12 No. 1 pp 1-28.

Professional membership(s)
1. August 2018 – To Date: Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE)
2. September 2016 – To Date: Member of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG).
3. January 2006 – December 2010: Member of International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE)
4. September 2003 – December 2007: Member of Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA)