Study On The Impact Of Cocoa Cooperativeon On The Income Of Cocoa Farmers In Ghana

The study was conducted to investigate how cooperatives contribute to the increase in income of cocoa farmers in Ghana.This is important because it will help address the many challenges of cocoa farmers in Ghana.Therefore,this study was conducted to ascertain the impact cooperatives have on income of cocoa farmers,the assistance received in the form of empowerment and to know the major challenges faced by cooperatives.Using the mixed research method,data was collected from 500 respondents through questionnaire and 10 respondents through interview.The study result was analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling,charts and tables.The software used for the analysis were SPSS and AMOS.Results show that cooperatives have a positive impact on cocoa farmers and their contributions help farmers increase productivity,yield and income which helps to improve the social-economic wellbeing of cocoa farmers in Ghana.The empowerment come in the form of training on good farming practices such as pruning,planting,land preparation activities,diseases and pest control,harvesting and how to effectively and efficiently apply fertilizers.All these training and empowerment programmes equip farmers with the requisite training and skills to help them improve on all activities on the farms.Such trainings are organized at planned intervals of which some are organized on monthly and annual basis.The study recommends that the activities of cooperatives must be supported by all stakeholders(COCOBOD,government users of cocoa and farmers)to make cocoa farming highly sustainable in Ghana.