Cocoa Abrabopa Association (CAA) and Alfred Ritter GmbH are conducting a living income survey in Daboase, Aboso, Bonsa-Tarkwa and Bogoso cocoa districts in the Western South Region of Ghana as part of several sustainability initiatives targeting a total of 526 members and their households.
The survey is being carried out to identify the status quo, develop targeted activities and measure the progress towards the introduction of living income in these communities.
“A representative sample of 205 household surveys has been conducted between the 9th and the 20th of August in these cocoa districts.
The survey design, desk study, data analyses, data cleaning and report writing was carried out by Agric-Logic, a Dutch consultancy organization in the agricultural and development sector” the partners said.
According to them, Agric-Logic contracted a Ghanaian data collection and management company Think Data Services to conduct the household surveys and in the coming weeks also the focus group discussions in the field will begin.
“The questionnaire asked questions on household income, farm size, productivity, age of the farm, landholding rights, household structures, possessions and other income generating activities” the partners explained.
The partners indicated that, the results must provide answers as to whether farmers are receiving a living income based on predefined information available through Rainforest Alliance and the Ghanaian government.
The partners believe that more must be done to improve agriculture based livelihoods especially cocoa farmers.
The Association said that, in the coming weeks their survey will be complemented with Focus Group Discussions in different communities with a special focus on women groups in cocoa growing communities.