Cocoa Research Innovations and Output in Ghana

Abstract

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana has introduced a number of innovations to increase cocoa yield per hectare from 360 to 1,300 Kg but the rate of adoption has been low. The objectives of the study were to determine factors which influence adoption and to estimate the impact of adoption on output. A sample of 600 cocoa farmers was selected through a multistage sampling technique. An interview schedule was used to gather data. The double hurdle model was used to estimate the determinants of adoption and intensity of adoption whilst OLS was used to estimate the impact of adoption on output. Findings were that age of the farmer negatively affected adoption. Household size, farm size, primary education, access to credit, hired labour. non-hired labour, own labour, membership of association and frequency of extension advice positively influenced adoption. The results further indicated that all the variables had positive relationship with intensity of adoption. Also, output of cocoa had positive relationship with household size, farm size. middle school education, hired labour, membership of association, frequency of extension advice, credit access and intensity of adoption. Il is recommended that government should tackle the issue of land ownership: COCOBOD should intensify provision of social interventions like the housing scheme for cocoa farmers to make farming attractive to the youth. intensify extension services, provide (raining and encourage them to join requirements to access credit and the need to repay loans granted.