Elvis Dartey Okoffo

Modeling Ghanaian cocoa farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of application: the case of Brong Ahafo Region

Pesticides are a significant component of the modern agricultural technology that has been widely adopted across the globe to control pests, diseases, weeds and other plant pathogens, in an effort to reduce or eliminate yield losses and maintain high product quality. Although pesticides are said to be toxic and exposes farmers to risk due to the hazardous effects of these chemicals, pesticide use among cocoa farmers in Ghana is still high. Furthermore, cocoa farmers do not apply pesticide on their cocoa farms at the recommended frequency of application. In view of this, the study assessed the factors influencing cocoa farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of pesticide application. A total of 240 cocoa farmers from six cocoa growing communities in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana were selected for the study using the multi-stage sampling technique. The Probit and Tobit regression models were used to estimate factors influencing farmers’ decision to use pesticide and frequency of pesticide application, respectively. Results of the study revealed that the use of pesticide is still high among farmers in the Region and that cocoa farmers do not follow the Ghana Cocoa Board recommended frequency of pesticide application. In addition, cocoa farmers in the study area were found to be using both Ghana Cocoa Board approved/recommended and unapproved pesticides for cocoa production. Gender, age, educational level, years of farming experience, access to extension service, availability of agrochemical shop and access to credit significantly influenced farmers’ decision to use pesticides. Also, educational level, years of farming experience, membership of farmer based organisation, access to extension service, access to credit and cocoa income significantly influenced frequency of pesticide application. Since access to extension service is one key factor that reduces pesticide use and frequency of application among cocoa farmers, it is recommended that policies by government and non-governmental organisations should be aimed at mobilizing resources towards the expansion of extension education. In addition, extension service should target younger farmers as well as provide information on alternative pest control methods in order to reduce pesticide use among cocoa farmers. Furthermore, extension service/agents should target cocoa farmers with less years of farming experience and encourage cocoa farmers to join farmer based organisations in order to decrease frequency of pesticide application.

What are the drivers of cocoa farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies in Ghana?

Abstract This study analyses cocoa farmers’ perception on climate change and adaptation strategies in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Better understanding of these perceptions would help identify knowledge gaps of cocoa farmers on climate change, and would help equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills on climate change and improve cocoa yields. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey of 240 cocoa farmers selected from six cocoa growing communities. Logit model is used to estimate factors influencing climate change adaptation strategies among cocoa farmers in the study area. The results of the study reveal that cocoa farmers perceive long-term changes in climatic variables which indicate their awareness of climate change and the impact on cocoa production. The adaptation strategies use by cocoa farmers in the study area includes planting of improved varieties of cocoa, increasing pesticide and fertilizer application, crop diversification, diversification to non-farm activities and planting of trees for shade. Gender, marital status, educational level, household size, engagement in other economic activities, farming experience, access to extension services, access to credit/loan, and cocoa income influence the cocoa farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The study suggests that the government of Ghana should develop more effective climate change adaptation strategies as well as improve dissemination of information to farmers through extension agents in order to increase adoption of effective climate change adaptation strategies.