The Nexus Between Cocoa Farmers' Business Schools Participation and Impact to Support Livelihood Improvement Strategies in Ghana

The authors examined cocoa farmers' participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, impacts of livelihood outcomes (human, physical, financial, and social capitals) on participation, and implications of participation on productivity and per capita expenditure. We used cross-sectional data from 150 cocoa farmers. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics, heteroskedastic probit, and doubly robust augmented inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model (AIPW). More than half of cocoa farmers participated in FBS. Financial capital (income and loan accessibility) and social capital (farmer group membership) positively influenced participation in FBS. Nevertheless, human capital (ability to pay medical bills) and physical capital (number of sleeping rooms) negatively influenced participation in FBS. Knowledge and skills cocoa farmers obtained from FBS are new farming methods, creativity in solving farming problems, record keeping, and managerial skills. Participation in FBS had a positive impact and a heterogeneous effect on cocoa farmers' productivity and per capita expenditure. Given that the impact of FBS was heterogeneous, the FBS curriculum and approach should be segmented for different types of farmers to the generic FBS approaches currently practiced.

Automated summary

This study examines cocoa farmers' participation in Farmer Business Schools (FBS) in Ghana, and the impacts of their participation on livelihood outcomes and productivity. The results show that financial capital and social capital have a positive influence on participation, while human capital and physical capital have a negative influence. FBS provides farmers with new farming methods, problem-solving skills, and managerial skills. Participation in FBS has a positive impact on cocoa farmers' productivity and per capita expenditure, but the impact varies among individuals.