Impact of children’s appropriate work participation in cocoa farms on household welfare: Evidence from Ghana
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Abstract
This study examines how children engaged in cocoa farming in Ghana affect household welfare. Data was
gathered from 384 cocoa producers using a multistage sampling technique and analysed employing the Cragg
double hurdle and propensity score method. The study found that only 2.3 % of cocoa farmers highly used
children for cocoa activities. Additionally, household size, cooperative membership, and credit access were found
to have significant impacts on both the use and extent of use of children on cocoa farms. Moreover, cocoa farmers
who used children experienced improvements in their income, food security and assets compared to those who
did not use children. The study also confirms the reality of the practice of employing children on cocoa plan tations in Ghana. Harnessing the considerable advantages of credit access and cooperative membership, we
emphasize the importance of extension agents sensitizing cocoa farmers about the merits of forming co operatives. This approach could serve as a means of obtaining group/individual credits to support cocoa pro duction. Furthermore, in light of the notable improvements in the welfare of cocoa farmers, it is imperative for
COCOBOD to take decisive action in invigorating the regulation against child labor and instead embrace agri cultural technologies as viable alternatives.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Child labour, Child work, Cocoa farmers