Abstract:
This study was designed to analyse the adoption of recommended
cocoa practices among cocoa growers in Ghana and to relate it to the
correctness of their knowledge of principles underlying the recommende
practices, the growers' sources of cocoa husbandry information
selected personal and economic characteristics of the growers; and to examine
the relationships discovered and to draw recommendations which will
assist the Ghana Government in programmes to increase cocoa production.
In order to study these relationships, a personal interview,
using a structured interview schedule, was employed to collect the data
from a sample of 1,191 cocoa growers in Ghana. Statistically significant
association? were found between the adoption of recommended cocoa practices
and
1) the correctness of growers' knowledge of principles underlying a
recommended cocoa practice;
2) adult education sources of information; and
3) individual grower's output of cocoa.
The study indicated that although the possession of correct knowledge of
principles was crucial to the adoption of the innovations, the mere possession
was not always sufficient motivation to effect adoption. An
equally important factor was adult education sources of information. In
addition, there was no indication that the adoption of recommended practices
was more closely linked with correctness of knowledge than with
adult education sources of information. Among the personal and economic
characteristics studied, number of wives, number of children, advisory
role and number of years engaged in cocoa growing were positively associated
with adoption of recommended practices. Male growers were more
apt to adopt innovations than female growers. Age was not related to
adoption. Literacy was positively associated with adoption of recommended
practices.
The study shows that possession of correct knowledge of principles
is crucial to adoption of recommended cocoa practices. Thus,
access to formal instructional activities could contribute to the
improved performance of cocoa growers in Ghana. An obvious mechanism
for improvement is adult education for the growers.
