Farm Operations and Injury Risks to Children in Cocoa Households in the Western Region of Ghana: Implications for Extension Education

Cocoa remains the most important cash crop in Ghana, with the Western Region being the leading producer. More recently, concerns have been raised about ethical cocoa production, especially regarding child labour. Drawing on historical sources and a survey, the research assessed the injury risks of children in cocoa farming in the Western Region of Ghana and its implications for extension education. The study concludes that cocoa farm households in Ghana, typically in Western Region, engage children in the households in almost all aspects of cocoa production operations as a way of socializing them into the family cocoa production business – a complex and socially tolerable practice in Ghana. The extent of engagement however, is low across the operations. The operations engaged by the children are generally repetitive and include carrying loads, land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, harvesting, and breaking cocoa pods. More importantly, the study concludes that cocoa farmers are more at risk to injuries caused by repetitive strain, and lifting and carrying of loads, which are the work normally done by children. Nonetheless, the focus of extension education in Ghana has been on adult farmers in design and content. To effectively manage the risk associated with this complex phenomenon, the study emphasized the need for a holistic extension education that includes child-sensitive labour practices in cocoa production, focusing on the entire farm household. This will best empower cocoa households to ethically and health-wise socialise children as part of a livelihood system for sustainable cocoa productio

The Potential of Farmer Field School in Cocoa Extension Delivery:A Ghanaian Case Study

The potential of Farmer Field School (FFS) as an extension approach in Africa is still evolving, with limited empirical evidence. Cocoa FFSs have been introduced in Ghana by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) since 2006, and are still being experimented with by COCOBOD and NGOs. But, little is known about its effects on farmers to inform COCOBOD’s quest to mainstream and support it. This study, therefore, ascertains the potential of the FFS in terms of its effectiveness and impact on livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Ghana. Using a retrospective comparison design, a survey was conducted on beneficiaries of cocoa FFS in the Mpohor Wassa East District of the Western Region of Ghana. The case study found that the FFS was effective in facilitating farmers\u27 acquisition of knowledge in all cocoa technologies practiced under the FFS. The participant farmers perceived their yields to have increased significantly up to 79%, and their household livelihoods improved due to the FFS. It was also perceived to have improved all capital assets of the farmers, with human capital being the most affected. The best predictors of impact on the livelihoods of the cocoa farmers in FFS were mirid control practices (40.7%), followed by training and extension methods (7.4%). It can be concluded from this case study that FFS can be an effective tool for cocoa extension in Ghana based on the confidence the study farmers have shown regarding its ability to improve farmer competence, yields, and household livelihood

Towards A Cross-Sector Pluralistic Agricultural Extension System in A Decentralized Policy Context: A Ghanaian Case Study

ABSTRACT The dwindling government funding of agricultural extension in developing countries and the call on extension organizations to support farm households' livelihood security initiatives, has made the practice of pluralistic extension a realistic option for ensuring efficient and effective use of available resources for extension and sustainable development. The aim of the study was to understand the key factors that can contribute to successful pluralistic agricultural extension system in a decentralized policy environment in developing countries for sustainable agricultural development. The research used a qualitative case study based on a successful district level public agricultural extension organization in Ghana. Semi-structure interviews, supported with documents and observations, were used for the data collection. The case study shows that an important factor that can contribute to the success of a local level extension organization is its ability to coordinate its activities, and collaborate with other stakeholder organizations through the provision of forums, where organizations from different sectors can interact. Also, by establishing mutually beneficial working relationships and trust with stakeholder organizations where training of staff and other resources including working materials, funds, vehicles, and library resources can be exchanged or shared. These relationships can increase extension organization's capability to assist farm households in meeting their broader livelihood security needs in a more sustainable manner