COCOA-BASED INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE ACCEPTABILITY AND RURAL POVERTY IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

This study examines cocoa-based information and knowledge acceptability and rural household poverty in East Akim and Atiwa Districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Weighted mean score was used to rank the degree of acceptability of the cocoa-based information and knowledge. Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) poverty measures were used to access the poverty level of farmers. Cocoa production messages were well disseminated and acceptable to farmers with regards to attributes of practicability, user-friendliness, reliability and relevance. Cocoa marketing information was moderately disseminated whereas messages on cocoa financing as well as ICT were poorly disseminated. The study recommends that information and knowledge packaged for farmers should be realistic, practical and relevant to encourage high adoption to improve the lives of the rural farm families. Government, NGOs and private business organizations should implement program which aim at increasing the household income through access to production credit, ease of access to land for increased farm size and timely supply of farm input will go a long way to bail the farm households out of poverty.