Publication Date: 2023/12/02
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.
Keywords: No Keywords Available
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10250252
PDF: https://ijirst.demo4.arinfotech.co/assets/upload/files/IJISRT23NOV1228.pdf
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