Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana
To address the growing demand for increased crop yields while mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of agricultural practices, a comprehensive understanding of unapproved pesticide usage among cocoa farmers in Ghana is essential. This study employed a multi-stage sampling technique and admini...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2324976 |
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| author | Wilhemina Hyde-Cooper Prince Asiedu Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum Prince Amoako John-Eudes Andivi Bakang Akua Yeboah Oduro-Owusu |
| author_facet | Wilhemina Hyde-Cooper Prince Asiedu Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum Prince Amoako John-Eudes Andivi Bakang Akua Yeboah Oduro-Owusu |
| author_sort | Wilhemina Hyde-Cooper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To address the growing demand for increased crop yields while mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of agricultural practices, a comprehensive understanding of unapproved pesticide usage among cocoa farmers in Ghana is essential. This study employed a multi-stage sampling technique and administered questionnaires for 400 cocoa farmers. Data analysis encompassed a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics. Generally, the use of unapproved pesticides among the cocoa farmers is relatively low (42%). Cocoa farmers were unsure about their reasons for using the unapproved pesticides (Mean index = 3.41). Agro-chemical shops (79%) serve as the main conduit of information for farmers’ use of unapproved pesticides. The unapproved pesticide mostly used by the farmers was ‘Gramaxone’ (16%). Significantly, the use of these unapproved pesticides was influenced by various socioeconomic factors, including education (5%), farming experience (5%), farm size (5%), access to knapsack sprayers (1%), and access to labour (1%). The study’s key takeaway is the imperative to enhance training programmes for the category of farmers who still use unapproved pesticides. By addressing this issue, it is possible to promote safer and more sustainable agricultural practices while simultaneously improving crop yields, aligning with the broader objectives of sustainable agriculture in Ghana. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9f29b8d621245f78e1189ca80a9b247 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-1886 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9f29b8d621245f78e1189ca80a9b2472025-08-20T03:46:54ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Social Sciences2331-18862024-12-0110110.1080/23311886.2024.2324976Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, GhanaWilhemina Hyde-Cooper0Prince Asiedu1Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum2Prince Amoako3John-Eudes Andivi Bakang4Akua Yeboah Oduro-Owusu5Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Development Studies, University of Passau, GermanyDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, KNUST-Kumasi, GhanaTo address the growing demand for increased crop yields while mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of agricultural practices, a comprehensive understanding of unapproved pesticide usage among cocoa farmers in Ghana is essential. This study employed a multi-stage sampling technique and administered questionnaires for 400 cocoa farmers. Data analysis encompassed a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics. Generally, the use of unapproved pesticides among the cocoa farmers is relatively low (42%). Cocoa farmers were unsure about their reasons for using the unapproved pesticides (Mean index = 3.41). Agro-chemical shops (79%) serve as the main conduit of information for farmers’ use of unapproved pesticides. The unapproved pesticide mostly used by the farmers was ‘Gramaxone’ (16%). Significantly, the use of these unapproved pesticides was influenced by various socioeconomic factors, including education (5%), farming experience (5%), farm size (5%), access to knapsack sprayers (1%), and access to labour (1%). The study’s key takeaway is the imperative to enhance training programmes for the category of farmers who still use unapproved pesticides. By addressing this issue, it is possible to promote safer and more sustainable agricultural practices while simultaneously improving crop yields, aligning with the broader objectives of sustainable agriculture in Ghana.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2324976Agro-chemicalscocoa productionperceptionspesticidessocioeconomic factorsunapproved |
| spellingShingle | Wilhemina Hyde-Cooper Prince Asiedu Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum Prince Amoako John-Eudes Andivi Bakang Akua Yeboah Oduro-Owusu Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana Cogent Social Sciences Agro-chemicals cocoa production perceptions pesticides socioeconomic factors unapproved |
| title | Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana |
| title_full | Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana |
| title_short | Why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides? Empirical evidence from Obuasi Municipality, Ghana |
| title_sort | why do cocoa farmers use unapproved pesticides empirical evidence from obuasi municipality ghana |
| topic | Agro-chemicals cocoa production perceptions pesticides socioeconomic factors unapproved |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311886.2024.2324976 |
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