“Assessing the financial viability of the cocoa “Hi-Tech” and the “Codapec” Programmes in Ghana”

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2012-08-22
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Cocoa production in Ghana has been declining over the years due to declining soil fertility and incidence of diseases and pests, among other factors. To address these challenges the Government of Ghana in collaboration with Cocoa Research institute of Ghana (CRIG) implemented the “CODAPEC” and “HI-TECH” programmes in 2001. The overall objective of the study was to assess the financial viability of these programmes. Primary data was collected from a simple random sample of 259 cocoa farmers in three cocoa districts in Ghana through personal interviews with the use of semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of the farmers and the parameters of interest in the study. For the inferential analysis; partial budget and financial viability tests including profitability index, investment appraisal techniques and sensitivity analysis were conducted. The study showed that the introduction of “CODAPEC” and “HI-TECH” programme in the Cocoa industry have increased output to levels above the national average of 0.35mt/ha to 0.68mt/ha and 1.68mt/ha respectively. The study also estimated returns on investment ratio of 1.29 and 2.05 for “CODAPEC” and “HI-TECH” farmers respectively. The estimated Tisdell’s Total Factor Productivity indices over the years showed that the “HI-TECH” programme exhibited high level of profitability than the “CODAPEC” which only sees to the control of diseases and pests. Results from the investment appraisal technique and sensitivity analysis showed that the two projects were both viable and profitable. However, the “HI-TECH” programme which combines fertilizer application to diseases and pests control in addition to the adoption of good agricultural practices was more viable and profitable than the “CODAPEC” programme which only tackles diseases and pests problems in coca production. The study therefore recommended that stakeholders and policy makers should continue to invest in both “HI-TECH” and “CODAPEC” programmes since they complement each other to boost cocoa production.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics, 2012
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