Summary
This study investigates agricultural diversification as a poverty-reduction strategy in West African cocoa-dependent regions by examining Grain of Paradise integration into existing cocoa systems in Ghana. Using an endogenous switching regression model on 480 household observations, the analysis finds that cultivators achieved substantial consumption gains (67.5% increase) and reduced poverty gaps (18.7% reduction), with counterfactual modelling suggesting similar benefits could accrue to non-adopters. The findings support mixed cropping as a policy approach to reduce income vulnerability among smallholder cocoa farmers.
Regional applicability
Whilst this study is Ghana-focused, the findings on diversification benefits may have limited direct applicability to United Kingdom conditions, which lack cocoa production. However, the methodological approach to evaluating mixed-farming welfare outcomes and the policy principle of reducing crop-dependency risk could inform UK agricultural diversification or agroforestry policy discussions.
Key measures
Per capita consumption expenditure (67.5% increase among cultivators), poverty gap (18.7% reduction among cultivators), poverty severity
Outcomes reported
The study measured the impact of Grain of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) cultivation on household per capita consumption expenditure and poverty indicators among cocoa-farming households. Key outcomes included percentage change in consumption expenditure and poverty gap reduction.
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