Investigating Cocoa Farmers’ Perception and Determinants of Their Perceptions on Farm Support Services in Ghana

This study investigated three institutions that provide support services for cocoa farmers in Ghana. These institutions are: extension, Farmer - Based Organisations (FBOs) and Licenced Buying Companies (LBCs) in three cocoa producing regions of Ghana, namely: Ahafo, Bono and Western North regions. The sample size for the study was seven hundred (700) cocoa farmers; comprising two hundred and fifty (250) cocoa farmers each selected from Ahafo and Western North regions and two hundred (200) cocoa farmers from Bono region. Simple random sampling procedure was employed to interview farmers using structured questionnaires. Five point ‘Likert’ scale perception index coded from 1-5 ("Strongly Disagree," to "Strongly Agree.“) was used to evaluate farmers’ perception on support services and the results obtained indicated that the majority of farmers agree to extension and FBO supports. The overall perception index of extension was 3.84 and FBO 3.63 indicating farmers agreement to extension and FBO supports. Farmers were neutral to LBC support (2.87). Multivariate Ordered Probit model was used to determine factors that influence farmers’ perceptions on support services. Years of formal education positively influenced extension and FBO supports at 1% level of significance. Household size positively influenced extension support at 1% level whilst negatively influenced LBC service at 10% level of significance.