Ghana has achieved substantial poverty reduction over the last 15 years and is on track of reducing its poverty rate by half before the target date of 2015 for the Millennium development Goals. The objective of this study is to document this remarkable achievement, and more broadly to review the evidence on a range of issues related to poverty reduction among cocoa farmers in Asikumah-Odoben-Brakwa of the Central Region using the most recent household survey data available The study aims to determine the contributions of cocoa farming activities to household income and consumption; to determine their level of access to basic services ; to determine the contribution of cocoa into the general well-being of the people and to make recommendations on how the cocoa industry could be used to improve the living standard of the Ghanaian rural communities.
The study would rely on some comparable selected Core Welfare Indicators Survey (CWIQ) for 1997 and 2003 pertaining to Asikumah-Odoben-Brakwa District.
In conclusion, the study found out that cocoa farming coupled with government provision of other social services has contributed in reducing poverty in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District thus most cocoa farming households are above the upper poverty line. Notwithstanding that, the study strongly recommends that government and other key stakeholders look at improving the health needs, provision of decent housing scheme and monitoring the usage of cocoa weighing scales to guaranty fairness.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
1.2 Problem Statement.
1.3 Justification
1.4 General Objectives
1.4.1 Specific objectives
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Definitions of poverty and the poor
2.2 Concept and consequences of poverty
2.2.1 Concept of poverty
2.2.2 Consequences of poverty
2.3 Three perspectives of poverty
2.3.1 Income perspective
2.3.2 Basic need perspective
2.3.3 Capabilities perspective
2.4 Poverty trends
2.4.1 Poverty trend in Ghana
2.4.2 Poverty Situation in the Central Region
2.4.3 Selected Welfare Indicators in the Asikuma-Odoben- Brakwa
2.5 Measuring Poverty
2.5.1 Steps in measuring poverty
2.5.2 Non-momentary dimensions
2.5.2.1 Household characteristics
2.6 Dimensions of Poverty
2.6.1 Momentary Dimensions
2.6.1.1 Income
2.6.1.2 Consumption
2.6 Aggregate measures of poverty
2.6.1 Poverty Line
2.6.2 Headcount index
2.6.3 Poverty gap index
2.7 Characteristics of cocoa farming households in Ghana
2.8 Cash sharing or remuneration of cocoa proceeds
2.9 Cocoa mass spraying
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Study area
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Population
3.4 Sampling Procedures
3.5 Instrument procedure
3.6 Data collection
3.7 Data analysis
3.8 Sources of data
3.49 Limitations of the study
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Results and Discussions
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
45.4 Suggestions for further studies
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to assess the incidence of poverty among cocoa farming households in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of Ghana. The research examines how cocoa farming activities contribute to household income, consumption, and overall well-being, while evaluating access to essential services and government support.
- Socio-economic impact of cocoa farming on rural households.
- Assessment of poverty levels relative to national and regional indicators.
- Role of government initiatives such as mass spraying and scholarships.
- Analysis of household assets and access to basic infrastructure.
- Determinants of income and dependency ratios among farmers.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background to the study
According to World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), cocoa is described as a smallholder crop, employing a majority of people and their families in the tropics. In the 2000 Population and Housing Census the figures revealed that cocoa farming employs over 1.5 million out of about 3,972,407 people in agricultural activities largely in rural areas of the country. According to earlier studies by NPECLC (2007), they found out that in many cases cocoa is the only source of income for these families enabling them to meet basic human needs such as food, housing, shelter and health care thus reducing poverty among most Ghanaians.
Since commercial quantities of cocoa production began in about 1879 with cocoa pods brought from Fernando Po by Tetteh Quarshie cocoa cultivation has been considered as an important economic activity. Manu.M and Tetteh E.K, (1987), however found out that, the crop is highly produced by rural farmers generally smallholders who operates family farms and cultivate acreages that range from about three acres or less in the Western North and Western South regions .The rest of the regions are Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Central and some part of Northern Volta where rainfall is 1,000-150 millimetres per year. A few outliers may operate farms that are less than an acre, or up to about a hundred acres or more in some cases.
Tiffen, Pauline, et al (2006),cited that cocoa farming is also the basis of economic security for a wide range of people within Ghana especially women .Often cocoa farms are passed on to women as inheritances to ensure that they have an income and are protected from destitution, particularly as they age. Studies have shown that income earned from cocoa by women is more likely to be used to meet families’ basic needs, such as nutrition, healthcare and education. Thus, the cocoa farming helps to reduce the poverty level among families especially in the rural areas.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter establishes the significance of cocoa farming for Ghana's economy and defines the research problem, justification, and objectives specific to the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter synthesizes existing theoretical and empirical research regarding poverty definitions, dimensions, measurement methods, and the socio-economic characteristics of cocoa farming households.
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY: This section details the research design, the case study approach, the sampling procedures used for selecting respondents, and the methods of data collection and analysis employed in the district.
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: This chapter presents the primary data findings derived from the field surveys, relating them to household demographics, income levels, asset acquisition, and access to government initiatives.
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, offers evidence-based conclusions regarding poverty status, and proposes policy recommendations for stakeholders.
Keywords
Cocoa farming, Poverty reduction, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Household income, Smallholder agriculture, Economic security, Rural development, Cocoa production, Ghana, Welfare indicators, Socio-economic, Mass spraying, Farm gate price, Livelihoods, Asset acquisition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on assessing the poverty situation among cocoa farming households in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of Ghana and identifying how cocoa cultivation contributes to their livelihoods.
What are the key thematic areas covered?
The paper covers the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, household income sources, access to basic social services, and the impact of government interventions like the cocoa mass spraying program.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary objective is to document the role of cocoa farming in poverty reduction and determine whether the households in the study area are above or below the poverty line.
What scientific methods were used?
The study utilizes a case study design, employing quantitative data collection through household questionnaires, descriptive statistics, and frequency analysis of survey responses.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body includes a literature review on poverty concepts, a methodology section, and an extensive presentation of results covering household demographics, farm size, income levels, and asset ownership.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Cocoa farming, Poverty reduction, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Household income, Smallholder agriculture, and Rural development.
How do cocoa farming households in the study area generally perceive their income?
While 48% of farmers indicated their income is sufficient, 52% reported that their income from cocoa cultivation is low and inadequate for their basic needs.
What role does the cocoa mass spraying exercise play in the farmers' lives?
The majority (80%) of farmers benefited from the exercise, which is considered beneficial as it reduces production costs and consequently helps increase their income.
What is the impact of household size on poverty in the study area?
The study notes that 72% of households have more than five members, suggesting a correlation between large household size and increased susceptibility to poverty due to higher dependency ratios.
What major recommendation does the author make for further studies?
The author recommends further investigation into the use of weighing scales for cocoa beans, as many farmers have expressed concerns regarding unfair appropriation by buyers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Kojo Danquah Amankrah (Autor:in), 2008, Assessing Poverty Situations: A Case Study of Cocoa Farming Households in the Asikuma-Odoben Brakwa District of the Central Region, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/287042
