ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY BY COCOA FARMERS IN KAILAHUN DISTRICT

Authors: Joe Diawo, Adolphus Johnson & Tamba Sesie

ABSTRACT

The adoption of improved agricultural technologies by cocoa farmers is an important component for improvement in agricultural productivity especially in developing countries. This study assessed the adoption of improved agricultural technologies among 1000 cocoa farmers in eight chiefdoms in Kailahun District. The research used the non-experimental design which was the mixed method type where both qualitative and quantitative data were used. Four enumerators (one assigned to two chiefdoms) were hired and trained to collect the data. The data collection instrument was developed and explained to the enumerators in a mini pre-enumeration training session. The soft copy of the research instrument, Kobo Collect   was forwarded to each of the enumerators via their mobile phones and pre-tested, gaps identified and corrected before they went out in to the field to administer the instrument. Each enumerator was facilitated to go to their assigned chiefdoms to collect the research data.

From the data gathered from the questionnaires, key issues were earmarked for focus group discussions with farmers based on set criteria such as sex and age as a means of validating the data gathered from the questionnaires.

Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also conducted with institutions including ministries, departments, and agencies providing support to cocoa farmers to ascertain the level of adoption of technology-facilitated by their support to the sector.

Field observation (non-participant observation) of cocoa farmers was also done to further ascertain the validity of the quantitative data.

Data from the questionnaire after being collated shed light on a number of issues which were seen to be needing clarifications. The issues which needed clarification by the farmers were made part of the focus group discussions while those needing clarification by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, departments, agencies interested in cocoa farming and cocoa dealers were the subjects of the key informant interviews.

Quantitative data was analysed using excel software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The data was downloaded from the Open Data Kit (ODK) using the Microsoft Excel Software.

Excel was used to clean, transform and manipulate some variables and the data was exported to the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The SPSS was then used to do both descriptive and inferential analyses. The descriptive analyses were done using frequencies and percentages, and the results were presented in tables.

The findings reveal that some cocoa farmers have indeed adopted some production technologies in nursery establishment, cultivation, shade management, pruning, harvesting, and drying of the beans and storage. The findings also reveal that though some farmers have not received any training and are therefore not knowledgeable about some cocoa production technologies, there are those who have the knowledge, but are simply too lazy to apply the knowledge acquired from trainings received over time.

It is therefore recommended that more training opportunities should be made accessible to cocoa farmers and those who are seen to be simply too lazy to apply technology acquired from trainings received should be encouraged to do so.

Keywords: Technology, Adoption, Cocoa,

REFERENCES

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