Food security effects of cocoa household composition

Purpose We assessed food security effects of cocoa household composition in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach We used cross-sectional-primary dataset and applied multinomial logistic and Poisson regressions. We used household dietary diversity score (HDDS) to measure food security. Findings Few cocoa households suffer low HDDS, slightly more than 50% are medium in HDDS, while 40% have high HDDS. Household composition determines food security of cocoa households. Specifically, female-headed households, younger household heads, households comprising married couples, households comprising two parents, extended family households, households with low dependency ratio, households with working members, educated household heads, households with members holding leadership positions, households with off-farm income and households with members contributing to farm labour are better in HDDS (food security) than otherwise. Nonetheless, household size and age structure do not show definite influence on HDDS. Other factors that promote food security are migrant households, households residing farther away from urban centres and households belonging to social groups. Practical implications Policy should target and give special assistance to households with higher vulnerability to food insecurity. Originality/value Cocoa-specific analysis linking household compositional factors to food security outcomes is rare.