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<p>The global significance of cocoa (<i>Theobroma cacao</i>) underscores the urgent need to address its environmental and social impacts, particularly in Ghana, where cocoa expansion compromises food self-sufficiency. This study analyses cocoa farmers’ land use decisions, food self-sufficiency implications, willingness to practice land sparing, and its effectiveness in enhancing sustainable food production in Sefwi-Wiawso, Ghana. The study analysed land use changes from food crops to cocoa using 1999, 2015, and 2022 land use maps and a survey of 205 cocoa farmers. Data was gathered on farmers’ demographics, farmland, land use decisions, food self-sufficiency, and attitudes towards land sparing. A one-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test and a binary logistic regression were used to analyse farmers’ responses. The analysis revealed a 26–56% loss of food cropland to cocoa, and over 60% of farmers reported reduced food availability, decreased diversity of food production, and a shift from self-sufficiency to market dependence due to cocoa cultivation. About 80% of farmers were willing to adopt land-sparing practices to enhance food self-sufficiency, provided they received support for cocoa intensification. The study identifies age, household size, and land ownership as factors that influence the adoption of land-sparing. Also, land tenure insecurity, limited access to arable land, and a lack of affordable agricultural inputs were identified as barriers to land-sparing. Policymakers and development practitioners should prioritise supporting farmers in accessing affordable agricultural inputs, securing land tenure, and adopting land-sparing practices. By addressing these support gaps, cocoa farmers can effectively implement land-sparing, leading to improved food security and sustainable agricultural practices.</p>

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Cocoa eats the food: can land-sparing save farmers’ food self-sufficiency in Ghana?

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月8日

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  • George Ashiagbor,
  • Palliser Steven Arthur,
  • Isaac Stanisluv Essah,
  • Stephen Boahen Asabere,
  • Osei Owusu Antobre,
  • Winston Adams Asante

摘要

The global significance of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) underscores the urgent need to address its environmental and social impacts, particularly in Ghana, where cocoa expansion compromises food self-sufficiency. This study analyses cocoa farmers’ land use decisions, food self-sufficiency implications, willingness to practice land sparing, and its effectiveness in enhancing sustainable food production in Sefwi-Wiawso, Ghana. The study analysed land use changes from food crops to cocoa using 1999, 2015, and 2022 land use maps and a survey of 205 cocoa farmers. Data was gathered on farmers’ demographics, farmland, land use decisions, food self-sufficiency, and attitudes towards land sparing. A one-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test and a binary logistic regression were used to analyse farmers’ responses. The analysis revealed a 26–56% loss of food cropland to cocoa, and over 60% of farmers reported reduced food availability, decreased diversity of food production, and a shift from self-sufficiency to market dependence due to cocoa cultivation. About 80% of farmers were willing to adopt land-sparing practices to enhance food self-sufficiency, provided they received support for cocoa intensification. The study identifies age, household size, and land ownership as factors that influence the adoption of land-sparing. Also, land tenure insecurity, limited access to arable land, and a lack of affordable agricultural inputs were identified as barriers to land-sparing. Policymakers and development practitioners should prioritise supporting farmers in accessing affordable agricultural inputs, securing land tenure, and adopting land-sparing practices. By addressing these support gaps, cocoa farmers can effectively implement land-sparing, leading to improved food security and sustainable agricultural practices.