Cocoa Farmers In Ghana Research Articles

Cocoa vs. food crops: smallholder’s seasonal food access and extension support for climate adaptation in Ghana

ABSTRACT The food security implications of the production of cocoa compared to food crops and the phenomenon of the lean season amongst smallholder farmers have been well-researched. Yet, the literature has yet to consider how climate variability affects these dynamics. This study addresses this gap by comparing the contributions of cocoa and food crops to food stability and access during extreme and erratic weather events. It then compares government extension support for households’ climate adaptation of these crops. Our data draw on the case of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Central Region and comprise a survey of 250 households, 16 focus group discussions, and 81 semi-structured interviews with smallholders, market sellers, and government officials. We find that food crops are essential for households’ food access during the cocoa lean season and when cocoa yields are reduced by climate change-related extreme or erratic weather events. However, food crop yields are themselves negatively affected by climate variability impacts. Furthermore, many farmers lack climate adaptation strategies or support for food crops as government extension services focus instead on export-driven cocoa. We argue that to promote households’ food stability, more smallholder extension support for food crop production and climate adaptation is urgently needed.

MULTIVARIATE PROBIT MODELING OF CLIMATE-SMART ADAPTATION CHOICES AMONG FARMERS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: GHANAIAN STUDY OF COCOA FARMERS

Climate change and variability pose significant challenges to cocoa production in many sub-Saharan African countries, and Ghana is no exception. Therefore, knowledge of how farmers react to climate change and its variability effects is crucial in developing policies and programs to guide the design and implementation of effective climate-smart adaptation strategies at the farm level in Africa. This study aims to examine climate-smart adaptation choices cocoa farmers make as coping strategies for climate change and variability in Ghana using a multivariate probit modeling approach. Following a multistage sampling procedure, primary data was collected from 720 cocoa farmers across the major cocoa-growing regions in Ghana. The study found major adaptation choices for cocoa farmers to include improved and resistant varieties, optimal fertilizer application, optimal pesticide application, adjusting planting/harvesting dates, shade tree management, crop diversification, non-crop diversification, and off-farm economic diversification. We further observed that farmers’ adaptation choices were significantly influenced by climate change and adaptation-related variables such as rainfall variability index, temperature variability index, climate change impact perception index, and CSA awareness as well as agroclimatic zone effects. Concerning the influence of farmer and farm-specific variables, the study identifies that sex, age, education, farm size, quality of extension services delivery, access to credit, and membership in farmer groups were significant predictors of farmers’ CSA decision choices. This study offers beneficial insights for policymakers and stakeholders on how to promote climate-smart adaptation methods among cocoa farmers in Ghana.

Diversification And Cocoa Farm Profitability Among Cocoa Farmers in Ghana: A Conditional Mixed Process Approach

Diversification And Cocoa Farm Profitability Among Cocoa Farmers in Ghana: A Conditional Mixed Process Approach

The Gender Differential Analysis: Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Aspirations of Pesticide Use Among Cocoa Farmers In Asamankese Cocoa District, Ghana

Attempts to attain flawless agricultural production are still hampered by a range of restrictive factors including water scarcity, climate change, plant pests and diseases. Worries about the negative and unpleasant repercussions of pesticides on health are evolving in developing countries including Ghana. Cocoa farmers’ knowledge awareness, attitude, practices and skills in handling pesticides and the potential hazards it poses to them are vital in preventing pesticide exposure and hazards. This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, practices and aspiration of cocoa farmers in Ghana regarding pesticide use and the potential hazards it poses to their health. The paper highlights the importance of understanding the diverse roles and perspectives of male and female farmers in agricultural production. The study uses a quantitative approach and a cross-sectional descriptive approach to analyze data from 364 cocoa farmers in the Asamankese Cocoa District. The study found that both male and female cocoa farmers have a positive attitude towards pesticide usage, and their knowledge of pesticide handling practices is adequate. The study also found that male and female farmers have different levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pesticide use. The findings suggest that there is a need for increased awareness and education on safe pesticide handling practices to prevent pesticide exposure and its negative health effects on farmers.

The effect of producer groups on the productivity and technical efficiency of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

Producer groups are influential in Ghana’s cocoa value chain. They facilitate training, extension, education and inputs to their members. Still, there is no study on the impact of these producer groups on the technical efficiency and productivity of smallholder cocoa farmers. Using data from 217 and 199 members and non-members of cocoa producer groups, this study aimed to analyse producer groups’ impact on smallholder farmers’ technical efficiency and yield. The truncated normal distribution stochastic frontier model was adopted to estimate the farmers’ technical efficiency. Since the model showed an issue of inefficiency among the farmers, we added socio-demographic and institutional variables to account for determinants of inefficiency. Finally, we adopted an endogenous treatment regression model to analyse producer groups’ impact on the farmers’ technical efficiency by accounting for observed and unobserved biases. The study results show that farm size, labour, and capital significantly positively impact the partial elasticity of production. Age, education, use of hybrid cocoa, involvement in off-farm jobs, extension access, and producer group membership significantly affect inefficiency. The results further show that producer group membership significantly impacts technical efficiency and yield from the endogenous treatment regression model. To deal with the issues of non-participating in the producer groups, the study recommends that producer groups should be made accessible to farmers. Policymakers can promote the formation and strengthening of producer groups, leading to improved productivity and technical efficiency among cocoa farmers. This approach empowers farmers, enhances their access to resources and knowledge, and enables them to collectively address common challenges, ultimately contributing to sustainable cocoa production and better livelihoods for cocoa farming communities.

Demand for and intensity of use of extension services among cocoa farmers in Ghana: the heckpoisson approach.

In response to the evolving landscape of agricultural extension services, a paradigm shift is imperative, moving away from the traditional supply-centric approach to one that recognizes farmers as active participants influenced by socio-economic factors. This transformation is especially pertinent for cocoa farmers, whose livelihoods hinge on this crop. To elucidate this shift, our study employs a multistage sampling technique to select 400 cocoa farmers in the Tafo District, Eastern Region, Ghana to ensure representativeness and diversity. The Heckpoisson model analysis reveals that farmers' demand for and intensity of use of extension services are intricately linked to a spectrum of socio-economic factors; farming experience, cooperative membership, farm size, sex, number of farms, religion, land tenure, marital status, household size, access to credit, distance to the farm, age, and years of formal education. Building upon our insights, we recommend that extension service providers tailor their services to align with the socio-economic characteristics of farmers

Resilience against climate variability: The application of nature based solutions by cocoa farmers in Ghana

This study delves into the crucial intersection of climate resilience and sustainable agriculture by investigating the application of nature-based solutions (NBS) as adaptive strategies employed by cocoa farmers in Ghana. A total sample of 381 cocoa farmers were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. Farmers perceive notable changes (increase) in amount of rainfall, degree of temperature and number of rainy days. While the planting of shade trees is adopted by majority of the cocoa farmers to fight climate variability, they also perceive it to be the most effective. Factors that influence cocoa farmers' extent of adopting nature-based solutions are religion, age, years of formal education, land ownership, access to climate information, farm size and income. Climate variability (temperature, rainfall, wind) makes cocoa farmers vulnerable by affecting their social, financial and physical capitals. Nature based solutions (planting shade trees, climate-resilient varieties, early warning systems, knowledge sharing and efficient water management) increase cocoa farmers' resilience against climate variability. Ultimately, the study's outcomes hold implications for both local and global efforts to enhance agricultural resilience and secure livelihoods in an era of climate uncertainty.

Assessment of the Use and Application of Pesticides by Cocoa Farmers in Ghana

Assessment of the Use and Application of Pesticides by Cocoa Farmers in Ghana

Beyond certification: Investigating the nexus between compliance with sustainable agriculture standard and livelihood assets of certified smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

Beyond certification: Investigating the nexus between compliance with sustainable agriculture standard and livelihood assets of certified smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

Does adoption of cocoa hand pollination (CHP) improve welfare of farmers? Evidence from smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana

ABSTRACT This paper evaluates the impact of the adoption of cocoa hand pollination (CHP) on the welfare of smallholder cocoa producers. Using data collected from 1200 cocoa farmers in Huni Valley and Kejebril districts of Ghana, we employed endogenous switching regression, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment techniques to assess the impact. The two-step Cragg was used to examine the determinants of the decision and intensity of adoption. The results showed that education, marriage and farm size positively influenced both the decision and intensity of adoption of the CHP technique. The result further showed that the cost of labour for implementing the technology, age, education, family head, economic active members, age of the cocoa tree, off-farm work, credit access and farm size significantly determined the impact of adoption on smallholder cocoa producers’ welfare. Additionally, there is a positive impact of CHP adoption on productivity, income and food security. Careful consideration should be given to these factors including collaborations between government and stakeholders in the cocoa industry through the regular sensitization and trainings for farmers on improved technologies as the CHP to increase productivity, household income and reduce food insecurity of smallholder cocoa farmers.

Valuing Pollination as an Ecosystem Services: The Case of Hand Pollination for Cocoa Production in Ghana

The promotion of cocoa farm productivity has necessitated the intensification of input use with ensuing loss of natural pollinators. Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) remedy to declining pollinator population is addressed in the rolling out of hand pollination in the 2016/17 crop year. Applying contingent valuation on field data covering 608 farmers in five cocoa growing regions, we estimate the value of pollinator services to the cocoa industry in Ghana and farmers willingness to pay for the service. We find that cocoa farmers in Ghana are willing to pay for hand pollination to improve on their farm yields. Farmers averagely value pollinator services at $1.3 per acre of land. Extrapolated to cover all cultivated cocoa lands for 2017/18 crop year, the value of pollinator services to Ghana’s cocoa industry is averagely $6.1 million per annum. Hand pollination can improve cocoa farms yields given the statistically significant mean difference in yields between hand-pollinated and non-hand-pollinated farms. Having established the loss to the cocoa industry from pollinator decline and the need for effective pollination to support crop productivity, it is imperative for COCOBOD to ramp up strategies at preserving cocoa farm ecology to safe guard the industry.

Supply-Side Interventions in Cocoa Production in Ghana: A Regional Decomposition of Technical Efficiency and Technological Gaps

Although Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) promotes technical change in cocoa farming with innovative technologies and input support, crop productivity is better advanced by improving on the efficiency of input use by farmers. This study thereby investigates the technical efficiency of cocoa farmers in Ghana. The study uses cross sectional field data covering Western North, Ashanti, Eastern, Volta and Brong-Ahafo regions of Ghana on a sample of 899 cocoa farmers and adopts Meta frontier stochastic frontier analysis to derive production efficiencies for each region. The findings are that supply-side interventions such as hand pollination, hybrid seedlings, farm pruning and extension services can improve on technical efficiency of cocoa farmers, more especially in Ashanti, Eastern and Western region. Notably, the CODAPEC input support programme which encapsulates insecticides and fungicides spraying has failed to improve on production efficiency as compared to the Hi-Tech (fertilizer application) programme. Eastern region cocoa farmers stand out as the most efficient producers, producing about 87% of their potential output given technology, whereas Western North produces 76% of its output potential, the lowest of the five regions. The three other regions, namely, Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti and Volta can produce on average 83%, 80% and 78% of their output potential in cocoa respectively. Averagely, cocoa growing regions are underutilizing 21.5% of available technology in the industry while losing 36.5% of output potential due to technical inefficiencies.

Hand pollination, mass spraying, and hybrid seedlings: Do these technologies affect the welfare of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana?

AbstractAdoption of cocoa production technologies has the potential to improve productivity and welfare of smallholder producers in low‐income countries. While studies investigating synergies in agricultural technologies are growing, empirical evidence on the determinants and impacts of adopting multiple cocoa production technologies on smallholder farmers' welfare is scarce. Therefore, this study contributes by analyzing the determinants and effects of adoption of multiple cocoa production technologies on the welfare of smallholder farmers in Ghana. To achieve this, we used the multinomial endogenous switching regression and multivalued inverse probability regression adjustment models to a random sample of 2233 cocoa farmers from Ghana. The results show that various socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., farmer's age and experience), resource constraints (e.g., land ownership and credit access), market‐related factors (e.g., distance to the market), and production shocks (e.g., rainfall) influence the adoption of multiple cocoa production technologies. Furthermore, the results reveal that adopting multiple production technologies significantly improves cocoa yields, gross income, per capita consumption expenditure, and reduces household food insecurity. Therefore, policies, such as financial support, need to be aimed at improving and strengthening smallholder cocoa producers' capacity to adopt synergistic conventional and non‐conventional cocoa production technologies to maximize smallholder farmers' welfare.

Struggles over staples production? Constraints and food crops technologies adoptions of smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana’s Bono, Ahafo and Western North regions

Issues of food insufficiency among smallholder cocoa farming households persist due to low attention paid to food crops production. Employing multivariate probit technique on cross sectional data collected from cocoa farmers in Ghana, the study assessed dynamics in acceptance of four complementary agricultural technologies including improved variety, inorganic fertilizer, row planting and plant spacing. Socioeconomic and institutional factors impeding acceptance of technologies were identified. The suggestions are that, timely supply of inputs and relaxation of rules of acquisition of credit should be established. Institutional factors could be tackled more by adequately resourcing research and extension linkage systems in the developments and dissemination of improved agricultural technologies.

Knowledge, perception, and pesticide application practices among smallholder cocoa farmers in four Ghanaian cocoa-growing regions.

Pesticides are widely used in Ghana, especially in cocoa farming. However, the practice is suboptimal and unsupervised. Incorrect use of these chemicals can seriously harm human health, the environment, and economies that rely on these farmers' output. The study assessed cocoa farmers' pesticide knowledge, practices, and risk perception. Four hundred and four cocoa farmers were chosen randomly from 26 communities in four cocoa-growing regions of Ghana to answer questions about their risk knowledge, awareness, and practices, including personal protective equipment, storage and disposal of leftover pesticides, and used containers. The study revealed that 87% of the respondents belonged to cooperatives and certification groups. There was a significant positive relationship between group membership and benefits derived from inputs and training in pesticide use. About 70% of insecticides used were approved by the Ghana Cocoa Board, with neonicotinoids and pyrethroids being the most highly used insecticide classes in cocoa farms. Although farmers claimed adequate pesticide knowledge, this did not translate into practice, with the majority exhibiting improper pesticide storage, application, and disposal practices. Farmers appeared to know a lot but lacked the skills and attitude to put their knowledge to use. The improper practices appear to manifest in a variety of health symptoms experienced by farmers as a result of chemical exposure. The findings from this study suggest that cocoa farmers in Ghana require adequate practical training and support on pesticide use to reduce their associated health risks, protect the environment and ensure sustainable cocoa production in the world's second-largest cocoa bean exporter.

The role of social capital in adoption of risky versus less risky subsidized input supplies: An empirical study of cocoa farmers in Ghana

This study evaluates the effect of social capital on farmers’ adoption of subsidized seedlings and fertilizer for cocoa farmers in Ghana. We distinguish three types of social capital: network social capital, relationship social capital, and community social capital. Network social capital refers to the peer-to-peer information flow about product benefits reaching farmers, therefore closing the information asymmetry that prevents farmers from social learning about crop risk management through inputs adoption. Relationship social capital considers the role of social status in getting facilitated access to inputs through connections with extension officers who facilitate information dissemination about input benefits, and moreover potentially help bypass the government criteria in getting access to inputs themselves. Finally, community social capital concerns the community collective income, community size and reachability relative to the cooperative main office.We find that network social capital has a significant effect on adoption of subsidized seedlings, to an extent where it allows farmers to bypass subsidy qualification criteria for access to seedlings imposed by the government. This applies even more so for group and village leaders. Subsidized fertilizer uptake, on the other hand, is less dependent on social capital. We argue that this difference results from the risk involved in adopting seedlings versus fertilizer. In the case of seedlings adoption, relying on information provided by the social network promotes sharing of benefits of hybrid varieties, and thus reduces the risk of its application. Adoption of fertilizer, on the other hand, is not correlated with social capital because fertilizer application is less risky to farmers. They can easily switch from using fertilizer to not using fertilizer. Access to both inputs is influenced by government inputs’ eligibility criteria, namely having mapped farm. However, we find that 15% and 29% of farmers respectively have access to seedlings and fertilizer, even though their farms are not mapped. Our findings suggest that for governments to stimulate uptake of substantive inputs, such as seedlings, subsidies should coincide with attention to social capital and fair distribution of inputs.

Changing the perceptions and attitudes of rural Ghanaian youth towards cocoa farming

ABSTRACT Cocoa farmers in Ghana are aging, and this threatens the sustainability of the sector. Using a qualitative approach, this study assessed how the youth-centred training programme has changed existing negative perceptions on youth participation in cocoa farming. The results confirmed that youth disinterest in cocoa farming is partly influenced by the perception that cocoa farming is an activity for the aged. The positive effect of applying the knowledge and skills beneficiaries received in enhancing the quality of cocoa farms and improving cocoa yield have changed existing negative public perceptions. Youth-centred interventions inspire hope in the revitalisation of Ghana's cocoa sector.

Do smallholder farmers prefer commitment or flexibility in pension savings accounts? A randomised experiment of cocoa farmers in Ghana

AbstractThis paper examines the intertemporal choice preference for long-term savings of cocoa farmers in Ghana. We test the uptake of two pension products: with one, famers are free to withdraw 50% of their savings with no penalties prior to retirement age; with the other, only 30%. Using a randomised controlled trial we test the difference in uptake of two pensions products where we vary the flexibility of cash withdrawals from the pension account. We find an overall higher uptake of the more flexible pensions account, especially for women, who cannot inherit land titles in Ghana.

Impact of crop insurance on cocoa farmers' income: an empirical analysis from Ghana.

Risk is associated with every sector of an economy, and the pervasiveness of risk in agriculture is not new to farmers; they have, over the decades, developed ways to minimize and cope with it. The question is whether traditional strategies employed by farmers are adequate to curb unavoidable natural disasters. This study aims to see how crop insurance affects cocoa producers' incomes in Ghana. A well-structured questionnaire was delivered to a sample of 600 cocoa farmers in Ghana's Ashanti region, and data was collected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Tobit and propensity score matching effect estimators were used to examine crop insurance's impact on cocoa farmers' income. We found that the age of a cocoa farmer has a negative effect on the farmer's income and is statistically significant. Our result also shows that the marital status of cocoa farmers has a significant positive impact on their income. The relationship between savings and farmers' income was positive in our estimation. It indicates that an increase in savings attitude leads to a higher income for the farmers. The result indicates that crop insurance had a significant positive impact on cocoa farmers' income in the Ashanti region. The study recommends that the government of Ghana, with urgency, design agricultural insurance policy that can capture various farmers in the country to enhance their income and reduce poverty. Again, insurers need to promote publicity through public seminars, training, and media advertising to improve farmer awareness and knowledge of the insurance scheme.

Assessment of farmers’ knowledge and pesticides management in cocoa production in Ghana

The use of pesticides to control pests and diseases has been a measure to increase cocoa productivity in Ghana. However, regular use and indiscriminate application of pesticides have unintended environmental and health risks. This study assesses the types of pesticides used by cocoa farmers in Ghana, sources and knowledge on application rate, frequency of application and factors that could influence farmers’ choice of source of pesticides, knowledge on application rate, and frequency of application. Two hundred and forty cocoa farmers from the Dormaa West District of Ghana were interviewed from December 2014 to February 2015 using a pre-tested questionnaire. The results showed that farmers sourced pesticides from agrochemical shops and fellow farmers, with some benefiting from the government of Ghana's ‘‘free mass cocoa spraying’’ program. A majority (51.2%) of the farmers sprayed more than three times per cocoa season. In addition, 35% of the farmers dangerously mixed two or more different pesticides together when spraying. Gender, age, educational level, and income from cocoa farming significantly influenced the choice of source of pesticide while knowledge on pesticides application rate was significantly influenced by educational level of farmers, access to extension services, presence of agrochemical shop, membership of a farm-based organization, and age of a farmer. Frequency of pesticides application was significantly influenced by educational level of farmers, access to extension services, presence of agrochemical shop, membership of the farmer-based organization, knowledge of Ghana COCOBOD recommendation on pesticides application rate, income from cocoa farming, and age of farmers. The majority of the farmers mixed two or more pesticides together during spraying. The limitation of this research is the inability to carry out the survey in other cocoa-growing districts within the study region. There is a need for the training of farmers on the safe use of pesticides by the Ghana COCOBOD to effectively manage pests and diseases and reduce environmental pollution.