Abstract
Cocoa holds a prominent position in Ghana’s economy, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and revenue for the country. The active involvement of young individuals in various stages thus, production, and postproduction is essential for the sustainable growth and socio-economic development of the cocoa industry and the nation. However, youth participation in this sector remains limited. This study investigates the perceptions and determinants of youth engagement in different nodes of the cocoa value chain in Ghana, with a focus on production and post-production activities. Data were collected through surveys from 396 youth in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The findings reveal that while youth perceive opportunities for economic empowerment and skill acquisition within the cocoa value chain, they also perceive high input costs, limited access to credit, and inadequate infrastructure as key challenges hindering youth participation. Factors such as gender, education, occupation, income sources, and perceptions of the cocoa value chain significantly influence youth engagement in cocoa production and post-production activities. Furthermore, the study identifies critical constraints at each stage of the cocoa value chain, including limited access to land, high input costs, and the perception of cocoa farming as labour-intensive and financially uncertain. Most youth are keen on working in the cocoa sector, particularly in cocoa production which is good news for the economy of Ghana. The findings underscore the importance of fostering an enabling environment to promote youth participation in the cocoa value chain, thereby contributing to sustainable development, poverty reduction, and economic growth in Ghana.
Presenters
Sumaya IssahakuStudent, MPhil. Agricultural Extension and Development Communication, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ashanti, Ghana
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
COCOA VALUE CHAIN, YOUTH PARTICIPATION, BIVARIATE PROBIT MODEL
Digital Media
This presenter hasn’t added media.
Request media and follow this presentation.
