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Using primary data from 180 cocoa farmers in Osun State, Nigeria, the study defined the externalities associated with cocoa production, evaluated farmers' willingness to pay for externalities and identified the determinants impacting farmers' willingness to pay for externalities in cocoa production. To analyze the demographic traits of the sampled farmers in the research area, descriptive statistics were used. Farmers' willingness to pay for externalities and the price they are willing to pay for them were estimated using the double-hurdle model. The findings showed that the majority of the examined farmers were able to name externalities brought on by pesticide leaching and bad odor, but very few of them could name externalities brought on by fermentation. For pesticides leaking, offensive odor and fermentation externalities, the average projected amount farmers were willing to pay per kg of cocoa is 60, 81 and 54 k, respectively. The findings also indicated that a variety of explanatory factors, including age, household size, years of schooling, farming experience, participation in farmers' associations, farm size and income from cocoa farms, had an impact on farmers' decisions to pay for the identified externalities. According to the study's findings, producers were willing to spend an estimated average of 140.54 k per kilogram of cocoa produced in order to compensate for the externalities. Therefore, if conveyed through market mechanisms, the hidden costs and benefits resulting from identified externalities could lead to efficiency in the price of cocoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of the resilience concept within socioecological systems has recently received much attention. Assessing the characteristics of cocoa agroecosystems in the dry and moist semi-deciduous ecological zones has become critical for resilience analysis in this era of climate change and the constant shrinking of cocoa suitability areas. Previous studies have used one of the dimensions of resilience to analyse complex adaptive systems, excluding critical factors and variables. This study applied a multi-criteria decision-making process, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) that accommodates the three dimensions of resilience, i.e., buffer capacity, adaptive capacity and self-organisation. The AHP is a multi-criteria decision-making tool that proceeds with the design of a hierarchy system for the goal, criteria, attributes and variables. Selected cocoa farmers were assigned weights related to criteria, attributes and variables in a comparison matrix. The resilience of the cocoa agroecosystems in Offinso Municipal and Adansi North Districts was 2.75 ± 0.06 (mean ± SD) and 3.23 ± 0.10 (mean ± SD), respectively. Buffer capacity contributed the highest proportion (44.3%) in the Offinso Municipal District, followed by adaptive capacity (38.7%) and self-organisation (17%). A similar trend was recorded for the Adansi North District: buffer capacity (42.9%), adaptive capacity (42.9%) and self-organisation (14.3%). Across the two study areas, shade trees, crop diversification, soil quality, cocoa variety, farm size, farm age, alternative livelihood, annual income and co-operative membership contributed prominently to the construction of cocoa agroecosystem resilience. The assessment of agroecosystem resilience is location-specific, and the study provides a simplified methodology for evaluating resilience. The paper aims to understand the importance of the components of the cocoa agroecosystem, and a simplified methodology for evaluating its resilience to perturbations. It presents a conceptual and methodological framework for the analysis and measurement of agroecosystem resilience in a participatory manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractEffective savings mechanisms are crucial for household resilience and economic growth. Savings accounts, whether from banks or mobile-phone based, offer an alternative to informal saving mechanisms as they provide safe and private cash storage. However, there is still no clear evidence on how the use of digital tools can contribute to increasing farmers’ savings, compared with other financial tools such as bank accounts or keeping cash at home. To address this gap, we investigate factors affecting cocoa farmers’ decisions to save, as well as their savings amounts. Shedding light on saving determinants, we answer the question of whether formal and semi-formal accounts play a major role in savings accumulation. For our study, we employ data from a structured telephone survey conducted in 2021 among 405 randomly sampled cocoa farmers. Results from an interval regression suggest that bank account usage is associated with higher savings amounts. In contrast to male cocoa farmers, females seem to use mobile savings tools to their benefit. Our analysis further reveals the importance of education in household financial resource management. We provide valuable results for public policymakers and the private sector towards responsible financial inclusion and pro-poor development of digital financial services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cocoa plantation in Suruh Village, Trenggalek Regency is the main supplier of cocoa beans to UPH Rumah Coklat owned by the Department of Agriculture and Food of Trenggalek Regency. For example, in cocoa farmers' participation in the "Tunggal Jaya" Farmers Group, farmers are taught to make rorak and worm palaces to deal with climate change which helps maintain soil moisture and increase fertility. The objectives of this study are to determine 1) the level of farmer activeness, 2) the level of productivity, 3) the level of income, and 4) the correlation between farmer activeness in farmer groups with productivity and income of cocoa farming in Suruh Village, Trenggalek Regency. The number of samples used was 111 respondents. Data analysis used the Likert scale, productivity analysis, income analysis, and Pearson correlation. The results of the study showed: 1) cocoa farmer activeness in farmer groups in Suruh Village, Trenggalek Regency is in the active category with an overall average score of 3.56; 2) the average productivity of cocoa farming is in the medium category at 0.54 tons/ha/year; 3) the average income of cocoa farming is Rp6,016,562/year; 4) the correlation between farmer activeness with productivity is 0.865, farmer activeness with income is 0.760, and productivity with income is 0.868. The direction of the three correlations is positive and significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the impact of agricultural cooperatives on poverty depth of cocoa farmers' poverty levels in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 362 cocoa farmers in the study area. The results of a two-step control function quasi-maximum likelihood revealed that age, household size, farm size, and farming experience positively influenced the poverty depth while cooperative membership negatively influenced the depth of poverty among cocoa farmers. This study concludes that cooperative organizations have the potential to reduce poverty effectively, provided their values and principles are respected. Hence, an advocate for continued policy incentives targeted at encouraging farmers to form as well as participate in agricultural cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Theobroma cacao beans are cultivated in Fiji by smallholder farms in low volumes, mainly for export. Cocoa beans are often processed under ambient conditions by farmers and cocoa processors. Postharvest processing includes natural fermentation from six to ten days in wooden boxes, followed by sun – drying in the open for up to 14 days. The impact of fermentation conditions on key quality parameters of Fijian cocoa beans, such as temperature profile, pH, and total extractable polyphenol content (TPC) are presented in this study. The quality of fermentation was assessed using a standard method, such as a cut test followed by fermentation index (FI) measurement. A temperature increase to 40°C and variations in the pH of the bean mass were evident during natural fermentation. TPC in the cocoa beans was sensitive to temperature and pH. Fermentation was variable due to weather conditions between harvest seasons. The dry season had the best conditions for fermentation as the peak temperature of the bean mass was 40°C and the FI was high (1.39 ± 0.04) There is a need to improve fermentation during the rainy season. This can be achieved by providing training to Fijian cocoa farmers on using better fermentation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes new estimates of child labor use in Côte d'Ivoire's cocoa farms that are certified free of child labor. The study relies on list experiments (LE) to overcome social desirability bias associated with measuring sensitive issues, implemented on a sample of 4,458 Ivorian cocoa farmers. Findings show that 24 percent of them were helped by at least one child under 16 for harvesting and breaking the cocoa pods during the past 12 months, 21 percent for preparing their farm, and 25 percent employed and paid at least one child to perform any task on their cocoa farm. These results are twice as high as those declared by farmers when directly questioning them about their child labor use. This study provides evidence that the LE method, while more cognitively demanding than the direct questioning method, can be successfully understood by populations with low levels of education. Findings further show that, in this setting, the LE estimates are robust to specific LE design changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We assessed cocoa farmers' access to, demand for, and satisfaction with five innovation support services and the factors shaping them. Design/methodology/approach: We used data from 10 focus groups and a survey of 421 farmers in Central Cameroon. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and regression models. Findings: Results showed that farmers mostly receive training and advice whereas inputs, credit, and equipment are the most demanded services. Training and advice obtained the highest perceived quality score. Conflicts around distribution and capture by leaders were relatively frequent regarding inputs and equipment. Farmers' satisfaction with service outcomes increased with the number of services received and any services above training and advice yielded higher outcomes. Location, involvement in certification, seniority, and leadership position in farmers' organisations were significantly associated with access and demand for at least two services while satisfaction with quality was mostly influenced by prior services received and the extent to which they matched expectations. Practical implications: Farmers' demands for services are diverse, hence the importance of providing them with either service bundles or options from which they can choose. Additional efforts are needed from service providers to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the disseminated sustainable management practices. Theoretical implications: Farmers' satisfaction with services can be analysed from different perspectives. Both endogenous and exogenous factors determine access to, demand for, and satisfaction with services. Originality/value: This research is the first to assess the provision of innovation support services in the cocoa sector using an analytical framework that combines demand, access, and satisfaction with five services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cash crop producing countries, policy changes towards organic agriculture are critical for sustainable agriculture. This study explores the perceptions and reasons behind the lack of deliberate policies promoting organic cocoa production in Ghana and Ivory Coast, despite its potential benefits. In this qualitative study, 16 policymakers and experts were interviewed, and these data were thematically analysed using planned behaviour theory as the theoretical framework. The study reveals that policymakers perceive organic cocoa production favourably. The slow pace of research, innovation and development (RDI) remains one major barrier to the adoption of organic cocoa policy in Ghana and Ivory Coast. This implicitly leads to organic cocoa production being perceived and promoted as a ‘niche’. The study findings indicate that in emerging economies that solely depend on raw material production output to generate revenue for development, governments may not push through policies that encourage cocoa farmers to convert from conventional to organic cocoa production due to economic considerations. This study recommends the abandonment of the notion of organic cocoa production as a niche to enable Ghana and Ivory Coast to adopt organic cocoa policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern region of the department of Córdoba, Colombia, in the last ten years has shown growth in the cultivation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) as an alternative to replace illicit crops and improve the quality of life of the families that They have gone through armed conflict. The production system has shown potential given its yields that exceed the national average; However, there is no evidence of the presence of a study that investigates the efficiency in the allocation or investment of resources. The objective of the work was to determine the technical efficiency of this crop with information obtained from a structured survey applied to 158 cocoa farmers in the municipalities of Puerto Libertador, Montelíbano, Tierralta and Valencia. The information obtained contained technical and socioeconomic variables that allowed calculating the current state of the technical efficiency of cocoa cultivation for this region of the country. The technique used was the stochastic frontier through the estimation of parameters by the least squares method to a Cobb Douglas type production function. Although the yields are not low, the results show that the farmer has a technical efficiency of 39%, attributed to underutilization of resources resulting in a production gap. It is concluded that this inefficiency is also associated with social factors such as the advanced age of farmers and low levels of schooling, mainly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the potential outputs, outcomes, and impacts of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG) on the smallholder cocoa farmers in West Africa. The study primarily relies on a literature review and an impact pathway to conduct a systematic analysis to identify the potential effects of the LkSG on smallholder cocoa farmers. The findings indicate that some, but not all of the risks addressed by the LkSG align with those faced by smallholder cocoa farmers and their families. Additionally, the research also reveals weaknesses, particularly in managing environmental risks, which the LkSG does not adequately cover. Our findings show that in the short- and medium-term, the LkSG has no potential effects on smallholder cocoa farmers. Furthermore, the potential positive impacts of the law on smallholder cocoa farmers will take a long time to realize, as the LkSG considers primarily tier-1 suppliers. Companies in Germany might reassess their supply chains to strive for an LkSG-risk-free supply chain, which could in the long term have sustained impacts on smallholder cocoa farmers. However, we recommend a comprehensive risk analysis of the cocoa supply chain to enhance the human rights of cocoa farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the crucial role of human labour in Ghana's cocoa farming sector, the industry grapples with pressing challenges that threaten its sustainability and productivity. This study considers the intricate dynamics of labour scarcity and rising costs, focusing on the Tafo District, Ghana. We specifically collected data from 100 cocoa farmers who have been farming for over 20 years in the Tafo District using the purposive sampling method, and selected 10 cocoa labourers using a snowball technique. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the data using SPSS and Excel spreadsheet. Labour scarcity, attributed to 'galamsey'1 and 'okada'2activities, was acknowledged by 95% of respondents, and 84% noted high labour costs. Farmers pointed out that labour shortages affect the timing and frequency of their farm operations. With labour scarcity attributed to illegal mining and commercial motorcycle transportation, effective government intervention to regulate these activities in agricultural areas will be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the agricultural landscape of Ghana lies a complex interplay of practices governing the use of approved pesticides and adherence to safety standards among farmers. By analysing data gleaned from 400 farmers through the multistage sampling technique, our aim is reveal the multifaceted influences that shape farmers' decisions in the use of approved pesticides and safety compliance. Age, education, marital status, farm ownership, experience, farm size, access to equipment and services, cooperative membership, secondary occupations, and income, significantly influence farmers' choices in the use of approved pesticides. Furthermore, compliance with safety protocols is found to be influenced by factors such as farm size, access to extension services, and the perceived relative advantage of pesticides. We advocate for policies that promote the use of approved pesticides and prioritise safety standards in agricultural practices. This may include strengthening regulatory frameworks, incentivising sustainable farming practices, and enforcing penalties for noncompliance with safety regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Various models and approaches are implemented to provide technical assistance and support to improve cocoa farmers' welfare in Ghana. The Farmer Business School (FBS), which is analogous to Farmer Field School (FFS), is one of the few initiatives of GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The main aim of the initiative is to train smallholder cocoa farmers to perceive cocoa production as a business. However, there is limited or conflicting evidence as to the effect of FBS on productivity and food security, especially in Ghana. This study assessed FBS participation and the participation's impact on productivity and food security of cocoa farmers. Design/methodology/approach: The study used primary data collected from 542 cocoa farmers in Central and Western North regions of Ghana and employed descriptive statistics, perception index and Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) as analytical tools. Findings: The results, which reported an overall perception index of 0.7, indicated that the farmers had a strong positive perception on the FBS program. The results also showed that sex of a farmer, number of years of formal education, farm size, extension contact, perception, distance to extension outlet and membership of farmer-based organizations (FBOs) significantly influenced the decision to participate in FBS program. Also off-farm income, years of education and household size significantly influenced farm productivity and household food security. The results further showed that participation in FBS improved productivity and food security of cocoa farmers. Research limitations/implications: The study used data from two regions of Ghana, namely the Central region and the Western North region. Findings from studies using data covering all cocoa growing areas of Ghana could be more informative in formulating policies aimed at encouraging participation in FBS and consequently help improve cocoa productivity and food security. Originality/value: This article offers insights into the welfare effects of FBS on cocoa farmers as previous similar studies are without this information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and climate change issues have exacerbated the existing gender inequalities in Ghana's cocoa sector. The current underrepresentation and unequal access to opportunities for women in climate action initiatives has negative implications for their livelihoods. This research focuses on how harvesting cocoa waste enabled the creation of a sustainable micro enterprise to encourage adoption of shaded cocoa production to generate biomass (waste) for organic compost production. The study followed a prescribed training programme for organic compost production and agribusiness management skills. The study employed the analysis of project notes and post-training community-visit observation records and interviews to assess the success of the training workshops and the overall project progress. Results from the analyses indicate that the knowledge and skills provided engendered motivation for a continuous and expanded adoption of climate-smart agri-innovation of shaded cocoa production. Further, the results show evidence of positive social, environmental, cultural, and economic impacts and favourable prospects of improved livelihoods for female cocoa farmers. These insights imply that SDG13, which calls for urgent climate action, can be integrated with SDG5, which places emphasis on gender equity, to improve the adoption of cocoa agroforestry and the livelihood of women in the cocoa sector of Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of People & Nature is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

While there is a growing number of studies on the export‐ and firm‐level implications of non‐tariff measures for developing countries, there is little evidence on the trickle‐down effects on the farm level. In this paper, we analyse the recent regulations of the European Union regarding the maximum allowed cadmium (Cd) contents for cocoa‐derived products. We assess the potential economic costs associated with these Cd regulations for smallholder cocoa farmers in Ecuador. We rely on data from a nationwide survey among 1392 cocoa producers and a contingent valuation method to estimate producers' willingness to convert cocoa orchards to other land uses in case cocoa bean Cd levels exceed the limit. We estimate that farmers' economic cost of abandoning cocoa production is, on average, about 4400 US$ per hectare. Combining this value with a Cd distribution map and cocoa production statistics, we estimate that abandoning cocoa cultivation in areas with bean Cd concentrations above the 0.6 mg/kg target comes at a total economic cost of about 750 million US$. We conclude that the potential total economic cost of the EU Cd standard at the producer level in Ecuador could be very large if compliance strategies are not implemented to minimise welfare loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic generated diverse impacts and responses in agricultural value chains worldwide. Cocoa is a key crop for Ecuadorian exports, and the analysis of effects the pandemic had on value chain actors contributes to the understanding of their individual capacities to coping with a major shock. The purpose of this study was to assess the number and severity of impacts and responses implemented by two links in the cocoa value chain to the pandemic, based on a survey of 158 cocoa farmers and 52 cocoa intermediaries from the main cocoa-producing provinces of the northern coast of Ecuador in 2021. Surveyed farmers and part of the intermediaries form part of the sustainability program of a large Swiss chocolate manufacturer. The impacts and responses reported were grouped into seven resources according to the Activity System Approach. Then, a comparison between groups was applied using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for nonparametric data, determining the most severe impacts and effective resilience responses among the actors. The results reveal that farmers and intermediaries were similarly affected by the pandemic, reporting 21 and 16 negative impacts, respectively. Farmers experienced a higher number and severity of impacts on financial and social resources, while intermediaries on human and material resources. The strongest impact was the loss of sales, reported by 65% of farmers and 58% of intermediaries. Farmers implemented more social responses that they judged highly effective, while intermediaries implemented more human responses that they judged highly effective. Public policy should enhance the social resources of farmers by strengthening their associativity and the capacities of their members, as mechanisms to mitigate their vulnerability to future health and climate crises. The financial resources of both actors should be protected through public credit and agricultural insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the socioeconomic factors that predispose cocoa farmers to farm operation injuries, their choice of treatment and compliance with recommended safety standards. It used the multi-stage sampling technique to collect data from 400 cocoa farmers. Descriptive statistics, the ordered logistic and the multinomial logistic regression model were the method of analysis. The study found that injuries occur at all stages of farm operations, and sex, age, education level, alternative livelihood, household size, and farm size are associated with increased risk of injury. The majority of cocoa farmers prefer self-medication, with this practice being more common among young, less-educated male farmers with more farming experience and large farm sizes. It was found that compliance with recommended safety standards was influenced by sex, age, marital status, education level, farming experience, access to credit, and membership of a cooperative association. There is a need to raise awareness and provide education to cocoa farmers about the consequences of using herbal remedies and self-medication, and to emphasize the importance of seeking professional medical assistance. The study fills the literature gap by highlighting the socioeconomic factors that predispose farmers to injuries, the factors behind their choice of treatment methods and compliance with safety standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Climate change has a greater influence on agriculture through local climate variability than global climate patterns. The impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and shifts in crop patterns varies significantly across regions. Its impact is closely tied to the technical abilities of farmers in managing their cocoa farming businesses. Technical skills encompass the proficiency of farmers in adopting adaptive cocoa cultivation techniques for planting, maintaining cocoa plants, as well as handling harvest and postharvest processes. The technical capability is interconnected with factors such as crop dependency on rainfall patterns, availability of infrastructure for quality inputs, soil degradation and fertility, nutrient levels, limited farmers' resources, and technology penetration. Given the significant impact of climate change on cocoa farmers, it becomes crucial to enhance their adaptive capacity to address these challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of farmers and their adaptive capacity in responding to the impact of climate change. METHODS: Data were collected from 960 populations from two regencies, 4 districts, and 8 villages using the stratified sampling technique through interviews with 282 respondents. The sample size was determined using the Slovin formula through in-depth interviews with five key informants. The data collected were descriptively and statistically analyzed using the Excel program, which involved generating frequency distribution tables. Furthermore, the Mann-Whitney test, utilizing Statistical Product and Service Solution version 24, was employed to conduct a comparative analysis. FINDINGS: This result showed that the characteristics of farmers in the two areas were relatively the same in terms of age, non-formal education, number of family dependents, and perceptions of the climate. In terms of age, most farmers fell within the mature group of 36-48 years, with an average age of 44.63, considering in low category. The low productive age of farmers (44.63), along with their non-formal education, including training in climate field schools and integrated pest management field schools, as well as the number of dependents and their perceptions of climate change, emerged as significant parameters impacting farmers' decision-making processes. These factors also influenced their ability to cope, adapt, and seek new approaches to manage and mitigate the effects of climate change on their farming operations. CONCLUSION: The relationship between farmers' characteristics and adaptive capacity showed that the larger the land owned by farmers, the higher the managerial adaptability of farmers with lower technical ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of resources that (fflicts Ghanian and Ivorian enforcement of child labor prohibitions has allowed for the continued use of child labor in the cocoa industry. The current enforcement bodies not only sffer from serious coordination problems, but also fall victim to the harsh reality of cocoa farming which pays pitful daily wages to farmers. Child labor serves as a cocoa plantations are family-run, and thus the inclusion of children in the workforce is often a natural step, even where educational opportunities are available. To sacrifice productivity is to sacrifice one's livelihood. This Commentfirst analyses Ghana's and Cote d'Ivoire's child labor statutory regimes along with their enforcement apparatuses. This entails a deep dive into the fforts being taken ly government and nongovernment actors along with a discussion of contributing factors relating to the use of child labor. Finally, the Comment proposes a novel solution to establish an intergovernmental organisation, or commodity cartel, between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire to better regulate and coordinate cocoa export and growth, modeled after existing commodity cartels. This Comment focuses on the organisational feasibility of such an organisation and the potential ramifications, both advantageous and detrimental, such consolidation would cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The authors investigated cocoa farmers' access to subsidized fertilizer in Ghana and implications on productivity. Design/methodology/approach: Primary data were sourced from 435 cocoa farmers. Cragg hurdle and two-step Tobit model with continuous endogenous regressors/covariates were applied for the drivers of cocoa farmers' participation in fertilizer subsidy programme and productivity. Propensity score matching (PSM), inverse-probability weights (IPW) and augmented inverse-probability weights (AIPW) were applied for productivity impact assessment of fertilizer subsidy. Findings: All the farmers were aware of fertilizer subsidy for cocoa production in Ghana. Farmers became aware of fertilizer subsidy through extension officers, media and other farmers. Half of cocoa farmers benefitted from fertilizer subsidy. Averagely, cocoa farmers purchased 292 kg of subsidized fertilizer. Many socio-economic, farm-level characteristics and institutional factors determine cocoa farmers' participation in fertilizer subsidy programme, quantity of subsidized fertilizer obtained and productivity. Beneficiaries of fertilizer subsidy recorded higher cocoa productivity than non-beneficiaries. Hence, fertilizer subsidy for cocoa production in Ghana leads to a gain in productivity. Practical implications: There should be more investments in fertilizer subsidy so that all cocoa farmers benefit and obtain the required quantities. Originality/value: The authors provide new evidence on cocoa productivity gain or loss emanating from fertilizer subsidy by combining different impact assessment techniques for deeper analysis: PSM, IPW and AIPW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study takes a rural development perspective to examine the various reasons behind the use of children under 18 years in cocoa farms in Ghana. Using descriptive research, a sample size of 385 cocoa farmers was selected through the multi-stage sampling technique. The analyses included mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage, and perception index. Although the level of usage of children on cocoa farms was relatively low (74%), majority of the children were involved in nursing of cocoa seedlings (87.8%), digging of holes for seedlings (76.3%), gathering of pods (55.7%) and heaping of pods (53.9%). Farmers involved children on cocoa farms for the following three reasons; to acquire indigenous knowledge of farming patterns (Mean=2.18), it is a way of life to learn their parents' occupation (Mean=2.18), and income source of the household (Mean=2.11). The challenge most farmers face in the use of children for farm activities is the fact that the children do not meet the required strength/energy (Mean=2.48). Policy efforts towards the complete eradication of using children under 18 years on cocoa farms must take into consideration the rural nature of the environments in which cocoa farming takes place in order not for it to backfire as is the case currently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producer groups are influential in Ghana's cocoa value chain. They facilitate training, extension, education and inputs to their members. Still, there is no study on the impact of these producer groups on the technical efficiency and productivity of smallholder cocoa farmers. Using data from 217 and 199 members and non-members of cocoa producer groups, this study aimed to analyse producer groups' impact on smallholder farmers' technical efficiency and yield. The truncated normal distribution stochastic frontier model was adopted to estimate the farmers' technical efficiency. Since the model showed an issue of inefficiency among the farmers, we added socio-demographic and institutional variables to account for determinants of inefficiency. Finally, we adopted an endogenous treatment regression model to analyse producer groups' impact on the farmers' technical efficiency by accounting for observed and unobserved biases. The study results show that farm size, labour, and capital significantly positively impact the partial elasticity of production. Age, education, use of hybrid cocoa, involvement in off-farm jobs, extension access, and producer group membership significantly affect inefficiency. The results further show that producer group membership significantly impacts technical efficiency and yield from the endogenous treatment regression model. To deal with the issues of non-participating in the producer groups, the study recommends that producer groups should be made accessible to farmers. Policymakers can promote the formation and strengthening of producer groups, leading to improved productivity and technical efficiency among cocoa farmers. This approach empowers farmers, enhances their access to resources and knowledge, and enables them to collectively address common challenges, ultimately contributing to sustainable cocoa production and better livelihoods for cocoa farming communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of cocoa production technologies has the potential to improve productivity and welfare of smallholder producers in low‐income countries. While studies investigating synergies in agricultural technologies are growing, empirical evidence on the determinants and impacts of adopting multiple cocoa production technologies on smallholder farmers' welfare is scarce. Therefore, this study contributes by analyzing the determinants and effects of adoption of multiple cocoa production technologies on the welfare of smallholder farmers in Ghana. To achieve this, we used the multinomial endogenous switching regression and multivalued inverse probability regression adjustment models to a random sample of 2233 cocoa farmers from Ghana. The results show that various socioeconomic characteristics (e.g., farmer's age and experience), resource constraints (e.g., land ownership and credit access), market‐related factors (e.g., distance to the market), and production shocks (e.g., rainfall) influence the adoption of multiple cocoa production technologies. Furthermore, the results reveal that adopting multiple production technologies significantly improves cocoa yields, gross income, per capita consumption expenditure, and reduces household food insecurity. Therefore, policies, such as financial support, need to be aimed at improving and strengthening smallholder cocoa producers' capacity to adopt synergistic conventional and non‐conventional cocoa production technologies to maximize smallholder farmers' welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantations in Indonesia are dominated by smallholder plantations. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for investors and farmers to develop their businesses and achieve greater added value from cocoa agribusiness. Sepa Country is located in a coastal area with a village community, the majority of whom earn their living as farmers. Workers who work in the agricultural sector earn income which is used to meet living needs and improve household welfare. This research aims to determine the physical and non-physical factors of cocoa in Negeri Sepa, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency. The method used in this research is quantitative descriptive to explain the factors that influence the farming of cocoa farmers in Sepa Country. Data analysis in this research uses a frequency table. The results of the frequency tabulation show that the factors that influence the farming of cocoa farmers in Negeri Sepa, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency are physical factors (climatic conditions, soil & topography) and non-physical factors (cocoa farming management, capital, number of workers, transportation, marketing)., Credit Facilities and Technology) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning can be used for social good. The employment of artificial intelligence in smart agriculture has many benefits for the environment: it helps small farmers (at a local scale) and policymakers and cooperatives (at regional scale) to take valid and coordinated countermeasures to combat climate change. This article discusses how artificial intelligence in agriculture can help to reduce costs, especially in developing countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, employing only low-cost or open-source tools, from hardware to software and open data. We developed machine learning models for two tasks: the first is improving agricultural farming cultivation, and the second is water management. For the first task, we used deep neural networks (YOLOv5m) to detect healthy plants and pods of cocoa and damaged ones only using mobile phone images. The results confirm it is possible to distinguish well the healthy from damaged ones. For actions at a larger scale, the second task proposes the analysis of remote sensors, coming from the GRACE NASA Mission and ERA5, produced by the Copernicus climate change service. A new deep neural network architecture (CIWA-net) is proposed with a U-Net-like architecture, aiming to forecast the total water storage anomalies. The model quality is compared to a vanilla convolutional neural network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper relies on literature review and primary data collected through in-depth interviews with 21 respondents to examine the political economy dynamics of the cocoa value chain in Ghana. The historical analysis, which was based on the political settlements framework, has shown that the policies implemented in the cocoa sector went through four periods. The colonial era was characterised by a fairly corporate governance system and struggle between European traders and farmer cooperatives for monopoly over internal marketing of cocoa. This was followed by the early post-independence era (1957–1980), which was characterised by neopatrimonialism and over-taxation of cocoa farmers. The third phase (1980–2000) witnessed economic reforms and liberalisation. The fourth phase (2000 to present) saw increased public–private partnerships aimed at empowering women and promoting environmentally friendly farming activities. The paper concludes that the policies in the cocoa sector have, historically, created more benefits (rents) to political elite and their crony capitalists. Given that rent-seeking behaviour is a threat to the sustainability of the cocoa sector, the paper urges international development partners and civil society groups to demand greater accountability and transparency from the political elite and state institutions in the cocoa sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networks can influence people's behaviour and therefore it is assumed that central individuals in social networks, also called "opinion leaders", play a key role in driving change in agricultural and food systems. I analyse the outcomes of an intervention (that encouraged Sulawesi smallholder farmers to take a specific action toward improving the health of their cocoa trees) to assess the impact of engaging opinion leaders in agricultural programs that aim to change farmers' practices. The intervention has been implemented through (a) 18 opinion leaders identified by interviews and a social network survey of 1885 cocoa farmers; and (b) 18 randomly selected farmers who were not central in local social networks. The obtained social networks and statistical data were quantitatively analysed and the results were interpreted with input from the field staff. Contrary to expectations, the highly socially central opinion leaders were not more effective in promoting the initiative in their communities. On average, randomly selected low-centrality farmers convinced almost twice as many of their peers to take the recommended action as compared to the identified opinion leaders (17.1 versus 8.6) but the variation within the random group was also significantly higher. Importantly, while the identified opinion leaders were mostly senior men, women performed better in influencing others into taking action even when their centrality in local social networks of agricultural advice was lower. I discuss the implications of the conventional selection of perceived opinion leaders as model farmers for achieving sustainable and equitable change at scale in agriculture and propose practical alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Supply chain management is crucial in meeting consumer demand for raw materials and finished products. Effective supply chain processes aim to distribute products efficiently and at the right time, place, and cost to meet all requirements at every level. In the cocoa supply chain, the roles of actors such as cocoa farmers, collectors, wholesalers, agro-industry, and exporters are very important. While the availability of cocoa in the upstream sector is essential for the long-term viability of the cocoa agro-industry, the uncertainty of cocoa prices for farmers can threaten its sustainability. To overcome this problem, this study aims to examine the role of each supply chain actor in the cocoa pricing system. Descriptive and qualitative research methods were used. Interviews with cocoa supply chain actors in Pasaman, West Pasaman, and Padang Pariaman Regencies provided research data sources. According to the research findings, the price-fixing method, cocoa at the farmer and trader level, has been used thus far as the value pricing method received by consumers, which means that the price is based on consumer perceptions of the value of the cocoa being sold. Agro-industry product pricing is based on markup costs for the products produced. Meanwhile, cocoa pricing for exporters is adjusted to reflect the current global cocoa price. So, it is necessary to have a government policy that regulates the role of supply chain actors in determining cocoa prices at the farm level to improve the welfare of farmers, thus ensuring the development of a sustainable cocoa agro-industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a typology to highlight and describe the variation in attitudes among young farmers in rural Ghana, a group that has been treated in policy discourses and in development practice as largely homogenous. It further identifies motivations and aspirations associated with each type. A cluster analysis of survey data from 120 respondents yielded two types of young farmers: 'positive' and 'resigned'. The likelihood of being in either category was found to be related to marital status, location, and whether one had a secondary occupation. Further, the 'positive' group was more likely to report being influenced by adult role models and more likely to aspire to stay in farming. Our findings underscore the relevance of socio-economic and ecological environment on young people's attitudes to and decisions regarding farming and, consequently, on the outcome of policy and programmatic interventions meant to increase their participation in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of health insurance for smallholder farmers in most sub‐Saharan African countries hurts the families and can also negatively affect agriculture production, exports, and tax revenues. This paper analyzes the linkage between medical emergencies and agriculture exports and the corresponding tax revenues for smallholder farmers in Côte d'Ivoire. It uses two complementary datasets: the 2016 Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) smallholder survey and the 2015 Côte d'Ivoire living standard survey. The paper finds that a medical emergency is negatively and significantly associated with a decrease in the likelihood that a smallholder farmer cultivates cocoa of 3.9 percentage points, driving them into poverty and reducing productivity at the lower quantiles. The paper then estimates that medical emergencies can be correlated with the decline in cocoa exports of $853 million and in tax revenues of $125 million, representing 0.2% of the Ivorian gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on the resource curse paradox, we argued that farmers are crowded out due to their lower marginal propensity to bargain, making them vulnerable to livelihood shocks. Consequently, we examined the spillover effect of surface mining on cocoa farmers in the Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a mixed research design, a total sample of 758 farmers were proportionately sampled from 14 purposively selected communities from Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. In addition, community extension agents, chief farmers and opinion leaders were formed into a focus group for discussion. The quantitative data were presented using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon Sign Ranked test and triangulated with emergent issues from the focus group discussions. Research Implications/Limitations: The study largely focused on cocoa farmers who were affected by surface mining. As a result, the findings of this study were interpreted within that scope unless they are confirmed by studies that involve a cross-section of cocoa farmers. Findings: We found that the livelihoods of cocoa farmers have deteriorated due to significant reductions in cocoa farm sizes and yields attributed to surface mining activities in the districts. Generally, cocoa farmers willingly gave out farmlands to miners to receive a bulk sum of money. The processes involved in the computation and payment of compensation were not in line with protocols enshrined in the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of Ghana and the tenets of the entitlement theory of justice. Practical Implications: Sustainable land-use planning is a crucial element in mitigating the negative impacts and fostering resilient cocoa-farming communities in the affected districts. Based on this the study highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses environmental and economic challenges. Social Implications: The social implication of the study lies in the ability of cocoa farmer groups to advise their members against giving out their cocoa farms to surface miners and to make them aware that cocoa trees are heritage cash crops that are for use by current and future generations. Originality/Value: The paper contributes to the debate on the weakness of mining laws in protecting vulnerable groups with a focus on surface mining that crowds out farmers from the land market and dislocates them from their livelihood activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a rapidly changing climate, understanding the dynamics of cocoa farming and its vulnerability to climate variability is of paramount importance. By recognizing the power of perception and the complex interplay between climate factors and farming practices, we unlock novel pathways to build resilience among cocoa farmers. This innovative study aims to explore farmers' perceptions of various climate change issues. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from a sample of 400 cocoa farmers. The analysis reveals four dimensions of perceptions: (1) the most influential climatic variable was rainfall, (2) the most adopted mitigation intervention practiced by the farmers was pest control, (3) mitigation interventions affects cocoa productivity and (4) high cost of inputs constraints their use of the interventions. Identifying rainfall as the most influential climatic variable highlights the need for targeted interventions where policymakers focus on water management and irrigation systems to help farmers adapt to changing rainfall patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide poisoning is a leading occupational and public health concern among farmers in Nigeria. Nevertheless, with the country's rising population coupled with fluctuations in climatic conditions that favor frequent pest and disease outbreaks, the demand for pesticides has been on the increase to enhance food production and quality, thereby ensuring food security. Cross River State is the second largest cocoa producing state in the country with many small scale farmers involved in cocoa production. In spite of researches carried out on agrochemical use in Nigeria, little is known about pesticide use in Cross River State. This study was, therefore, aimed at documenting pesticide use, management practices and perceived effects on cocoa farmers' health in Cross River State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to survey 150 cocoa farmers in the State. A set of structured questionnaires was used to elicit information from farmers. The instrument focused on farmers' socio-economic characteristics, major pesticides used, pesticide management practices, and perceived pesticide effects on health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that the majority (71.3%) of farmers was male with most (60.7%) having farming experience of ten years and above, implying that cocoa production is dominated by men. Pesticides used in the study area were: herbicides such as clear weed (58%), insecticides such as Actara 25WG (98%) and Dursban 48EC (96%), inferring that more insecticides than herbicides were used by farmers. Pesticide management practices such as "use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and reading manufacturers' instructions before pesticide application" were practiced by 26% and 38% of respondents, respectively. Cough (MS=4.03), shortness of breath (MS=3.96), skin itching (MS=3.87), dizziness (MS=3.78) and sneezing (MS=3.78) were the severely perceived pesticide related sicknesses reported by farmers. The study recommended that agricultural extension advisory services should lay more emphasis on pesticide risk awareness and attitudinal change among farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are routinely applied by cocoa farmers to enhance cocoa production, which is threatened by pest infestations and diseases. However, the undesired health implications of pesticide applications on the farmers are yet to be fully elucidated especially among cocoa farmers in Idanre despite being the hub of cocoa production in Southwestern Nigeria. This study assessed the extent of pesticide use by cocoa farmers in the study area and determined the effects of exposure on their health using haematological and biochemical parameters as indices. A cross-sectional survey comprising 150 cocoa farmers and 50 controls (artisans) was carried out using structured questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from participants for the determination of copper and sulphate levels, haematological (haematocrit, red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and platelet counts) and biochemical (creatinine, cholesterol, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin) parameters. The blood levels of copper and sulphate were significantly higher in the cocoa farmers than in the controls. However, there was no significant difference between the subjects and controls for most of the haematological and biochemical parameters except for the platelet counts and total bilirubin levels. The data from the study did not suggest any serious health effects due to pesticide exposure on the cocoa farmers despite the high blood levels of copper and sulphate, probably due to exposure to copper-based fungicides. However, the high serum bilirubin level among the subjects was an indication of possible liver damage. As such, cocoa farmers should be guided against indiscriminate use of pesticides on their farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its nutritional quality and palatability, chocolate milk beverages are gaining popularity globally. Alkalized cocoa powder is mostly used in its production since it provides for more intense color and dispersibility, but it has a negative effect on the phytochemical content of cocoa powder. Studies have suggested that water buffalo milk is superior to other milk due to its higher protein content and superior emulsion properties. As such, this study investigated the physico-chemical characteristics, sensory profile, and consumer acceptability of commercial and prototype water buffalo chocolate milk incorporated with alkalized and natural cocoa powder. Based on four buffalo chocolate milk samples, consumer acceptance was assessed by 120 consumers, which was combined with descriptive sensory data using a trained panel (n = 8) to determine drivers of liking. Compositional proximate analysis of alkalized and natural cocoa powders showed a significant difference in pH, moisture content, ash content, and fat content. Descriptive analysis showed that 8 out of 13 attributes (color, visual sandiness, cocoa and vanilla aroma, smoothness, creaminess, vanilla taste, and chocolate aftertaste) were effective discriminators of sensory attributes. Overall, buffalo chocolate milk samples were equally liked, but hedonic ratings of the individual attributes revealed that the samples were statistically different for color, viscosity (mouthfeel), and chocolate flavor. Partial least square regression (PLSR) identified chocolate flavor, viscous appearance, viscous mouthfeel, and bitter aftertaste as positive "drivers of liking". The darker color provided by alkalized cocoa powder did not increase consumer liking. The purchase intention was equal for all chocolate milk samples, whether alkalized or natural. Both cocoa powders showed comparable performance in the manufacture of buffalo chocolate milk. Using natural cocoa powder may be beneficial to local producers of cocoa powder and cocoa farmers since it is easier to produce, while it can provide a marketing advantage for dairy beverages in the global trend of going back to "organic" and "natural". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, Ghana was Africa's largest gold producer and sixth largest producer worldwide. However, mining wrecks tremendous environmental havoc and poses significant human health risks. Efforts to mitigate these impacts have focused exclusively on regularizing mining, with little recognition of the crucial role farmers play in mining, particularly as agents that lease their land for the same. Ghana's new tree tenure policy allows cocoa farmers to acquire individualized, allodial rights to commercial timber species on their farms, which permits famers to capture forestry sector payments. We examine farmers' impressions of tree tenure reform as a potential counter to mining in eleven communities in Western and Western North regions, using focus group and individual interviews. While the concept of tree tenure is enthusiastically embraced, practical difficulties encountered by smallholders attempting to navigate the bureaucratic registration system limit the sway of tree registration and ownership as a means of limiting mining proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in cocoa productivity is often related to the quantity, quality, and demographics of smallholder farmers who are aging. Good agricultural practices (GAP) that are not consistently practices also affect the sustainability of cocoa smallholder communities (CSC). Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the profile of CSCs in the East Coast Zone of Sabah (ECZS) and to identify the levels of agricultural sustainability of CSCs from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. A quantitative study design with a review-inquiry approach was conducted on 195 CSCs respondents using a survey instrument. The basis of the study model is based on the agricultural sustainability model. The items of the study have a high reliability value ranging from 0.874 to 0.934. The study data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 26.0. The results of the study show that the majority of CSCs belong to the first generation of cocoa farmers, are between 51 and 60 years old, and have 1 to 20 years of experience in agriculture. The level of agricultural sustainability is at a high level and dominated by social aspects (min 4.27). Followed by agricultural sustainability from economic point of view (min 4.25) and environment (min 4.25). The results of the study provide new insights for the model that explain why the Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) needs to make additional efforts to sustain cocoa farming. This is line with the MCBs efforts to increase the country's food security through cocoa commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the impact of the adoption of cocoa hand pollination (CHP) on the welfare of smallholder cocoa producers. Using data collected from 1200 cocoa farmers in Huni Valley and Kejebril districts of Ghana, we employed endogenous switching regression, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighted adjustment techniques to assess the impact. The two-step Cragg was used to examine the determinants of the decision and intensity of adoption. The results showed that education, marriage and farm size positively influenced both the decision and intensity of adoption of the CHP technique. The result further showed that the cost of labour for implementing the technology, age, education, family head, economic active members, age of the cocoa tree, off-farm work, credit access and farm size significantly determined the impact of adoption on smallholder cocoa producers' welfare. Additionally, there is a positive impact of CHP adoption on productivity, income and food security. Careful consideration should be given to these factors including collaborations between government and stakeholders in the cocoa industry through the regular sensitization and trainings for farmers on improved technologies as the CHP to increase productivity, household income and reduce food insecurity of smallholder cocoa farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mistletoes are parasitic flowering plants that attack plants like cocoa and kill branches distal to point of attachment. Consequently, cocoa farmers incorporate trees to provide shade to limit germination and establishment of Tapinanthus bangwensis mistletoe species, but without success. This study was conducted in South-Western Ghana to identify causal factors of mistletoe infestation using random forest (RF) regression. Spatial arrangement of cocoa trees was the most important factor explaining mistletoe density, which was significantly higher in farms planted at random than in rows. The results imply that planting cocoa trees in rows could mitigate mistletoe infestation of Ghana's cocoa agroforests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Sociologia Rural is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Economia e Sociologia Rural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study evaluates the effect of social capital on farmers' adoption of subsidized seedlings and fertilizer for cocoa farmers in Ghana. We distinguish three types of social capital: network social capital, relationship social capital, and community social capital. Network social capital refers to the peer-to-peer information flow about product benefits reaching farmers, therefore closing the information asymmetry that prevents farmers from social learning about crop risk management through inputs adoption. Relationship social capital considers the role of social status in getting facilitated access to inputs through connections with extension officers who facilitate information dissemination about input benefits, and moreover potentially help bypass the government criteria in getting access to inputs themselves. Finally, community social capital concerns the community collective income, community size and reachability relative to the cooperative main office. We find that network social capital has a significant effect on adoption of subsidized seedlings, to an extent where it allows farmers to bypass subsidy qualification criteria for access to seedlings imposed by the government. This applies even more so for group and village leaders. Subsidized fertilizer uptake, on the other hand, is less dependent on social capital. We argue that this difference results from the risk involved in adopting seedlings versus fertilizer. In the case of seedlings adoption, relying on information provided by the social network promotes sharing of benefits of hybrid varieties, and thus reduces the risk of its application. Adoption of fertilizer, on the other hand, is not correlated with social capital because fertilizer application is less risky to farmers. They can easily switch from using fertilizer to not using fertilizer. Access to both inputs is influenced by government inputs' eligibility criteria, namely having mapped farm. However, we find that 15% and 29% of farmers respectively have access to seedlings and fertilizer, even though their farms are not mapped. Our findings suggest that for governments to stimulate uptake of substantive inputs, such as seedlings, subsidies should coincide with attention to social capital and fair distribution of inputs. • Social capital increases uptake seedlings. • Social capital does not affect fertilizer uptake. • Farm capital enhances fertilizer uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]