Cocoa Farmer Characteristics and Access to Research-Based Information in Two Districts of Ashanti, Ghana

Abstract

The main purpose is to review the state of cocoa extension system and its preparedness to meet the information needs of resource-poor farmers. It also sought to investigate the extent of farmer access to research-based information and how this access is influenced by certain farmer characteristics. Social survey involving questionnaire administration and statistical analyses were employed. Information was elicited from 278 farmers in ten communities in two political districts (Atwima Mponua and Amansie West) of Ashanti, Ghana. Contrary to recent review reports, this study found that 83.8% of farmers have not met an extension agent in the year preceding the study. Farmers relied heavily on their network of family members and friends for information on cocoa and only 13% regarded the extension system as reliable information source. The farmers preferred
to receive information through the radio which almost all had. Of the farmer characteristics examined, only district of residence and class of farmer showed significant relationship with access to research-based information. The implications are that farmer access to research-based information is low such that the characteristics of the farmer are largely immaterial. The findings have implications for government policy on extension support systems to cocoa farmers. It suggests that the policy of merging cocoa extension with mainstream ministry of agriculture extension may be flawed because it was meant to improve farmers\' access to information and as the findings of this study indicates, not much has been achieved in that direction. The study has practical value for policy formulation and the choice of appropriate media for interacting with farmers.

Keywords: Information, access, characteristics, cocoa

Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 28 (3) 2008: pp. 10-18