Cocoa Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Improved Extension Services in Ghana

Nelson Konkombo; Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum; Collins  Osei; John-Eudes Andivi Bakang; Fred Ankuyi; Ebenezer Osei Jones; Mark Arhin; Prince Asiedu

doi:10.26725/JEE.2023.3.35.7044-7059

Authors

Nelson Konkombo Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST
Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Collins Osei Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST
John-Eudes Andivi Bakang Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST
Fred Ankuyi Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, UCC-Cape Coast, Ghana
Ebenezer Osei Jones Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension Education, AAMUSTED-Mampong, Ghana
Mark Arhin Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, University of South Africa, South Africa
Prince Asiedu Department of Development Studies, University of Passau, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2023.3.35.7044-7059

Keywords:

Cocoa farmers, willingness to pay, extension service delivery, Improved;, Ghana

Abstract

Agricultural extension services play a pivotal role in enhancing the productivity, resilience, andsustainability of farming systems, particularly for smallholder farmers. In Ghana, cocoa farming remains a vital economic activity, contributing significantly to livelihoods and national revenue. However, the effectiveness of extension service delivery has often been limited by inadequate resources, infrequent farm visits, and a lack of tailored support to address farmer-specific needs. As farmers increasingly face challenges, the demand for improved extension services has become more urgent. This study explores cocoa farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for improved extension services in Ghana. The research employed a cross-sectional survey design, selecting 394 respondents through the multi-stage sampling process. Majority of the farmers were willing to pay for improved extension services, thus, arrangement for the supply of inputs, financial literacy and farm management training, and access to high-quality, certified seeds. Factors influencing willingness to pay included age, household size, household headship, farm size, sex, farming experience, access to credit, and skilled labour. There is strong consensus on three critical features of an improved extension system: the frequency of farm visits, prompt response from extension agents, and availability of essential tools and equipment. For improved extension services, the Ghana Cocoa Board must design and promote financial mechanisms that facilitate farmers’ ability to pay for extension services through flexible payment options or subsidies for disadvantaged farmers.

Author Biographies

Nelson Konkombo, Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST

Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana

Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana

References

Abebe, A. (2023). Farmers’ willingness to pay for mobile phone-based agricultural extension service in northern Ethiopia. Cogent Food & Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1080/233119 32.2023.2260605

Akinrotimi, A. F., Thompson, O. A., & Arifalo,S. F. (2024). Assessing good post-harvest practices and barriers among cocoa farmers and licensed buying agents in Southwest Nigeria. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2024/v10i3300

Amezah, K., & Mensah, A. (2002). The effect of reforms in the cocoa sector on cocoa extension. GTZ Consultancy Report for the Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES). Accra, Ghana: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

Amoah, S. K. (2013). Factors affecting cocoa production in Upper Denkyira West District . Unpublished Master’s thesis. Department of Mathematics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Anang, B. T., Bäckman, S., & Sipiläinen, T. (2020). Adoption and income effects of agricultural extension in northern Ghana. Scientific African, 7, e00219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00219

Ayodele, O. V. (2020). Ageing and resultant changing gender roles of farmers’ involvement in cocoa production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. https://doi.org/10.11648/J. AFF.20200903.11

COCOBOD. (2015). COCOBOD to rehabilitate aging farms. Retrieved from http://citifmonline.com/2014/10/27

Danso-Abbeam, G., Ehiakpor, D. S., & Aidoo,R. (2018). Agricultural extension and its effects on farm productivity and income: Insight from northern Ghana. Agriculture & Food Security, 7, 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0225-x

Diawo, J. (2022). Training needs analyses of cocoa farmers in Kailahun District. International Journal of Scientific and Management Research. https://doi.org/10.37502/ijsmr.2022.51010

Ejeta, T. T., Legesse, B., & Aman, M. (2019). Determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay for improved irrigation water use: The case of Woliso District, Ethiopia. International Journal of Rural Development, Environment and Health Research, 3(3), 1–12.

Fanelli, R. M. (2022). Bridging the gender gap in the agricultural sector: Evidence from European Union countries. Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11030105

Ganpat, W. G., Narine, L. K., & Harder, A. (2017). The impact of farm visits on farmers’ satisfaction with extension: Examining the dependence on individual methods in the Caribbean. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 24(3), 20–35. https://doi.org/10.5191/ jiaee.2017.24303

Gebreegziabher, K. T., & Mezgebo, G. K. (2020). Smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for privatized agricultural extension services in Tigray National Regional State, Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 24(4), 29–38.

GSS. (2021). 2021 Population and Housing Census: Summary report of final results. Accra: Ghana Statistical Service.

Guest, D. W., Butubu, J., Ogtrop, F. V., Hall,J., Vinning, G., & Walton, M. (2023). Poverty, education, and family health limit disease management and yields on smallholder cocoa farms in Bougainville. CABI One Health. https://doi.org/10.1079/ cabionehealth.2023.0009

Hauwa, B., Umar, H. S., Salau, E. S., Shehu, I. B., & Bako, S. (2022). Gender analysis of labor contribution among maize farming households in agricultural zone C of Kogi State, Nigeria. European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejfood.2022.4.2.444

Idachaba, F. S. (2005). Agricultural and rural development in Nigeria: The policy perspective. Kogi State University Convocation Lecture.

Ikoyo-Eweto, G., Adedokun, I. F., Archibong, J. P., & Okwuokenye, G. (2024). Rural farmers’ access to extension services: Implications for increased adoption of improved farm technologies in Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences. https://doi.org/10.4314/jafs.v21i2.11

Ikoyo-Eweto, G., Adedokun, I. F., & Archibong, J.P. (2024). Rural farmers’ access to extension services: Implications for increased adoption of improved farm technologies in Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences. https://doi.org/10.4314/jafs.v21i2.11

Kair, A. Y. M., Hamad, M. A. A., & Murhal, M. A. (2019). Effectiveness of extension methods in adopting the planting of improved varieties of sorghum and millet in Sheikan locality, Sudan. Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice, 4(4), 94–101.

Ljajić, S., & Piršl, D. (2021). The role of internal communication and workplace language in positioning organisations. Društvene i humanističke studije, 6(1), 14.

Moahid, M., Khan, G. D., Yoshida, Y., Joshi, N. P., & Maharjan, K. L. (2021). Agricultural credit and extension services: Does their synergy augment farmers’ economic outcomes?Sustainability, 13(3758). https://doi. org/10.3390/su13073758

Nwaobiala, C. U., & Okpara, M. (2017). Effect of agricultural extension delivery methods on arable crop farmers’ cropping systems in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development, 17(3).

Okoro, B. O., Chukwu, G. O., Onumadu, T., & Okoye, B. C. (2006). Sustaining agricultural extension through informal private sector participation in Abia State. In G. N. Asumugha, A. O. Olojede, J. G. Ikeorgu, A.O. Ano, & U. Herbert (Eds.), Repositioning agriculture for sustainable Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria: Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria. National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, October 16–20.

Olumba, C. C., & Olumba, C. N. (2024). Gendered livelihoods and the adoption of climate- smart agricultural practices in Nigeria. Gender, Place & Culture. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369x.2024.2338394

Omoro, P. A., Shitandi, A., Aming’a, N. N., & Basweti, E. A. (2015). Assessing the extension staff farm visits frequency effect on greenhouse technology performance in small-scale farms in Gusii Highlands, Kenya. Open Access Library Journal, 2(1), 1–10.

Oyimbo, O., Chamberlin, J., & Maertens, M. (2020). Design of digital agricultural extension tools: Perspectives from extension agents in Nigeria. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 71(3).

Ozor, N., Garforth, C. J., & Madukwe, M. C. (2013). Farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural extension services: Evidence from Nigeria. Journal of International Development, 25(3), 382–392.

Ragasa, C., & Mazunda, J. (2018). The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi. World Development, 105, 25–47.

Raji, E., Ijomah, T. I., & Osemeike, G. E. (2024). Improving agricultural practices and productivity through extension services and innovative training programs. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijarss.v6i7.1267

Ravi, K. M., & Allan, T. (2016). Effectiveness index of expert system applications in agriculture. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Biotechnology, 9(1), 117.

Rivera, W. M., & Sulaiman, V. R. (2009). Extension: Object of reform, engine for innovation. Outlook on Agriculture, 38(3), 267–273.

Sahu, S., Bishnoi, S., Sharma, P. R., Satyapriya, Mahra, G. S., Burman, R. R., Barua, S. M., Madhavan, M., Sangeetha, V., Sinha, S. K., Singh, R., Wason, M., Joshi, P., & Sharma,S. (2024). Exploring popular information sources and determinants of farmers’ access to agricultural extension services in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fsufs.2024.1339243

Sajesh, V. K., & Padaria, R. N. (2019). Farmers’ extension priorities and service quality of extension agencies: Evidence from Maharashtra State of India. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 89(3), 534–539.

Shausi, G. L., Ahmad, A. K., & Abdallah, J. M. (2019). Factors determining crop farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural extension services in Tanzania: A case of Mpwapwa and Mvomero districts. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, 11(12)

Silamat, E., Ginting, A. P., & Sutrisno, E. (2024). The effect of agricultural extension and post- harvest processing technology in increasing farmers’ income and farm business sustainability in rural Bandung Regency. World Scientific Insights in Sustainability, 2(7). https://doi.org/10.58812/wsis.v2i07.1135

Speranza, C. I., Kiteme, B., & Opondo, M. (2009). Adopting public agricultural extension services to climate change: Insight from Kenya. Germany: German Development Institute.

Sylla, A. Y., Al-Hassan, R. M., Egyir, I. S., & Anim- Somuah, H. (2019). Perceptions about quality of public and private agricultural extension in Africa: Evidence from farmers in Burkina Faso. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 5(1), 1685861. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1685861

Temesgen, D., & Tola, T. (2015). Determinants of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for agricultural extension services: A case study from Eastern Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10(20), 2152–2158.

Tetteh, D. A., & Asase, A. (2017). Socioeconomic profile and farm management practices of smallholder cocoa farmers in three cocoa-African Journal of Agricultural Research. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2015.10647

Wang, W., Ma, R., & Zhang, W. (2024). Digital agricultural technology services and farmers’ willingness to choose digital production technology in Sichuan Province, China. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1401316

Zwane, E. M. (2016). Perceptions of extension advisors on privatization and outsourcing as an option for development paradigm in Limpopo Province and the lessons for future. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 44(2), 71–83.