Pact of cocoa innovations on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Ghana: the sustainable livelihood framework (SL) approach

Abstract

The Cocoa High Technology Programme (CHTP) was introduced by the Government of Ghana in 2003 with the aim of improving the fertility of the soil thereby increasing the yields and incomes of cocoa farmers. A correlational survey design was used in the Eastern Region of Ghana to examine the perceived impact of the CHTP on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers who adopted the technology using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SL) Approach. The level of impact of the programme on farmers’ livelihoods as a ‘whole’ though higher, was below the expectations of cocoa farmers. The study further revealed that farmers’ yields were significantly improved by the CHTP with mean increase of 72% (from 2.85 bags/acre to 4.9 bags/acre), three years after the implementation of the CHTP. The results of stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that (1) fertilizer application; (2) harvesting, fermentation and drying technologies; and (3) fungicide application were the best predictors of impact on livelihoods of cocoa farmers.