Authors :
Felicia Adu-Berko; Simon C. Fialor; Robert Aidoo; Bright O. Asante; Maxwell Boakye-Agyeman
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 11 - November
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/372k4huh
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/2vpbz3dj
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10250252
Abstract :
The goal of best practices, which often come
under the purview of quality standards enhances
efficiency and production. As effort to improve quality
and food safety intensifies, compliance with quality
standards has recently gained significant attention. The
study evaluated how well cocoa farmers complied with
quality control protocols for cocoa beans and how this
affected the quality of the cocoa output. 400 cocoa
farmers provided information via pre-tested
standardized questionnaires. The survey data was fitted
with an equation model for the compliance index. The
study's findings showed that, male farmers were actively
involved in cocoa farming than females. 260 farmers
representing 65% were males. From the analysis, the
pattern of significance regarding farmers’ compliance
with cocoa quality standards basically revolves around
all the five quality control measures. The pattern brings
to bear the specific quality control measures whose
standards are highly complied with. The overall
compliance level of the farmers was 0.75 (75%). This
indicates a low compliance level. The total cocoa defects
found in the cocoa of the sampled farmers showed that,
all the cocoa had high purple and slaty beans which is an
indication of poor fermentation. The average purity
percentages for Ashanti and Western South were 71.3%
and 62.7% respectively. Factors that influenced the
cocoa farmers to comply with the quality standards were
also considered. Key amongst them were extension
services, government interventional support, access to
labour, off-farm activities and occupational experience
which positively and significantly influenced the farmers
compliance. It is advised that the government make a
sincere effort to spread extension information on cocoa
quality requirements and government support for
farmers in light of the study's findings.
The goal of best practices, which often come
under the purview of quality standards enhances
efficiency and production. As effort to improve quality
and food safety intensifies, compliance with quality
standards has recently gained significant attention. The
study evaluated how well cocoa farmers complied with
quality control protocols for cocoa beans and how this
affected the quality of the cocoa output. 400 cocoa
farmers provided information via pre-tested
standardized questionnaires. The survey data was fitted
with an equation model for the compliance index. The
study's findings showed that, male farmers were actively
involved in cocoa farming than females. 260 farmers
representing 65% were males. From the analysis, the
pattern of significance regarding farmers’ compliance
with cocoa quality standards basically revolves around
all the five quality control measures. The pattern brings
to bear the specific quality control measures whose
standards are highly complied with. The overall
compliance level of the farmers was 0.75 (75%). This
indicates a low compliance level. The total cocoa defects
found in the cocoa of the sampled farmers showed that,
all the cocoa had high purple and slaty beans which is an
indication of poor fermentation. The average purity
percentages for Ashanti and Western South were 71.3%
and 62.7% respectively. Factors that influenced the
cocoa farmers to comply with the quality standards were
also considered. Key amongst them were extension
services, government interventional support, access to
labour, off-farm activities and occupational experience
which positively and significantly influenced the farmers
compliance. It is advised that the government make a
sincere effort to spread extension information on cocoa
quality requirements and government support for
farmers in light of the study's findings.
