Factors influencing willingness and participation in cocoa certification programs among farmers in Sierra Leone
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper examined the determinants of willingness and actual participation in Cocoa certification programs in Sierra Leone, exploring the perspectives of farmers and certification officers. A multistage sampling technique was used to select Kailahun district as the most predominant in cocoa production, the Kissi Tongi Chiefdom due to high concentration of cocoa farmers and certification officers, and 10 cocoa producing communities from each where 20 cocoa farmers were random selected to give a total sample size of 200 farmers; while 30 certification officers were also randomly selected in the study area. Data were collected farmers and certification officers using a structured questionnaire subjected to face validity and covering the socio-economic characteristics, participation, and constraints to participation. The data collected were coded and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 29, using frequency counts, percentages, Probit and multiple linear regression. The results show that the determinants of willingness to participate are ethnicity ( t = -3.01, p < 0.003); marital status (t = 1.81, p < 0.07); religion (t = 3.13, p < 0.002) and income (t = -6.26, p < 0.00) while the determinants of actual participation are constraints on extension services (t = 1.86, p < 0.06); educational level (t = 3.69, p < 0.00) and participation in extension services (t = 1.96, p < 0.05). These results imply that critical socio-cultural factors influence willingness to participation, while technical factors determine actual participation. The combinations of socio-cultural and technical factors would enhance farmer’s participation in agricultural programs and enhance adoption.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Those authors who have publications with this journal accept the following terms of the License Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0):
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
The journal is not responsible for the opinions and concepts expressed in the works, they are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Editor, with the assistance of the Editorial Committee, reserves the right to suggest or request advisable or necessary modifications. They are accepted to publish original scientific papers, research results of interest that have not been published or sent to another journal for the same purpose.
The mention of trademarks of equipment, instruments or specific materials is for identification purposes, and there is no promotional commitment in relation to them, neither by the authors nor by the publisher.
References
FAOSTAT. Cocoa beans producing countries [Internet]. Rome: FAO; 2020 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
European Union. Ex-post evaluation of agriculture for development (A4D) [Internet]. Brussels: EU; 2019 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/a4devalfinalreport.pdf
Statistics Sierra Leone. 2019 Population and Housing Census National Analytical Report [Internet]. Freetown: Statistics Sierra Leone; 2020 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.statistics.sl/images/StatisticsSL/Documents/Census/2015/sl_2015_phc_thematic_report_on_agriculture.pdf
Aboushady N, Roy D, Zaki C. The three great stimulants: an analysis of the cocoa, coffee, and tea value chains in Africa. In: Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor 2022 [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/88615445-2d05-4b73-82e8-ebb97b88b5b1/content
International Cocoa Organization. Cocoa market update: trends and future prospects. Cocoa Market Rep. 2021;22(1):1-25. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.icco.org/home/
Makieu P. Assessing the challenges faced by cocoa farmers in accessing credit from community banks in Kailahun District, Sierra Leone [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5100227
World Bank. Sierra Leone - boosting productivity and competitiveness in the cocoa value chain: World Bank policy brief. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group; 2025 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099556404282539415
United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS). Voluntary sustainability standards - sustainability agenda and developing countries: opportunities and challenges: 5th flagship report [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://unfss.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UNFSS-5th-Report_14Oct2022_rev.pdf
Kemper L, Sampson G, Larrea C, Schlatter B, Luna E, Dang TD, Willer H. The state of sustainable markets 2023: statistics and emerging trends. Geneva: International Trade Centre; 2023. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.intracen.org/resources/publications/state-of-sustainable-markets-2023
Kemper L, Sampson G, Bermúdez S, Schlatter B, Luna E, Dang TD, Willer H. The state of sustainable markets 2024: statistics and emerging trends. Geneva: International Trade Centre; 2025. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.intracen.org/resources/publications/state-of-sustainable-markets-2024
Anang BT, Amerino J. Drivers of cocoa farmers' access to agricultural services in Ghana: a case study of Sefwi Wiawso Municipal. SAGE Open. 2024;14(4). doi: http://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241299188
Meemken EM, Barrett CB, Michelson HC, Qaim M, Reardon T, Sellare J. Sustainability standards in global agrifood supply chains. Nat Food. 2021;2:758-65. doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00360-3
Meemken EM. Do smallholder farmers benefit from sustainability standards? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Food Sec. 2020;26:100373. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/J.GFS.2020.100373
Iddrisu M, Aidoo R, Wongnaa CA. Participation in UTZ-RA voluntary cocoa certification scheme and its impact on smallholder welfare: evidence from Ghana. World Dev Perspect. 2020;20:100244. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2020.100244
Dompreh EB, Asare R, Gasparatos A. Sustainable but hungry? Food security outcomes of certification for cocoa and oil palm smallholders in Ghana. Environ Res Lett. 2021;16:055001. doi: http://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abdf88
Fairtrade International. Fair trade certification for producers: farms, fisheries, and factories [Internet]. Bonn: Fairtrade International; 2024 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.fairtradecertified.org/get-certified/fair-trade-certification-producers/
Ansah EO, Kaplowitz MD, Lupi F, Kerr J. Smallholder participation and procedural compliance with sustainable cocoa certification programs. Agroecol Sustain Food Syst. 2020;44(1):54-87. doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2019.1579776
Rusli AL, Fatah FA. A review on participation of cocoa smallholders in agricultural certification scheme. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci. 2022;1114(1):012018. doi: http://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1114/1/012018
Ayuya OI, Gido EO, Bett HK, Lagat JK, Kahi AK, Bauer S. Effect of certified organic production systems on poverty among smallholder farmers: empirical evidence from Kenya. World Dev. 2015;67:27-37. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.10.005
Sellare J, Meemken EM, Kouamé C, Qaim M. Do sustainability standards benefit smallholder farmers also when accounting for cooperative effects? Evidence from Côte d'Ivoire. Am J Agric Econ. 2020;102(2):681-95. doi: http://doi.org/10.1002/ajae.12015
Chiputwa B, Qaim M. Sustainability standards, gender, and nutrition among smallholder farmers in Uganda. J Dev Stud. 2016;52(9):1241-57. doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2016.1156090
Boonaert E, Maertens M. Voluntary sustainability standards and farmer welfare: the pathways to success? Food Policy. 2023;121:102543. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2023.102543
Haggar J, Soto G, Casanoves F, Virginio EM. Environmental-economic benefits and trade-offs on sustainably certified coffee farms. Ecol Indic. 2017;79:330-7. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.04.023
Irawan NC, Mahananto M, Supriyadi T, Haryni H. What are the major barriers and challenges faced by independent oil palm smallholder farmers in RSPO certification? World Dev. 2024;176:106312. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106312
Cadavid L, Arulnathan V, Pelletier N. Food security and food sovereignty: a review of commonly used indicators and consideration of environmental sustainability aspects. Sustainability. 2024;16(24):11034. doi: http://doi.org/10.3390/su162411034
Dietz T, Biber-Freudenberger L, Deal L, Börner J. Is private sustainability governance a myth? Evaluating major sustainability certifications in primary production: a mixed methods meta-study. Ecol Econ. 2022;201:107546. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107546
Grabs J, Carodenuto S, Jespersen K, Adams MA, Camacho MA, Celi G, et al. The role of midstream actors in advancing the sustainability of agri-food supply chains. Nat Sustain. 2024;7:527-35. doi: http://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-024-01296-9
Abdul-Hanan A, Anang BT. Factors influencing participation of cocoa farmers in the government spraying programme in Ghana. Asian J Agric Ext Econ Sociol. 2018;22(2):1-9. doi: http://doi.org/10.9734/AJAEES/2018/38842
Laksono P, Widodo S, Fahmi DA, Hanapi S, Misbah A, Djaafar TF, et al. Small farmers' willingness to adopt bioprocess technology for cocoa beans production in Indonesia. Sustain Futures. 2025 Dec;10:101217. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101217
Akinmusola O, Soyebo KO, Farinde AJ, Amujoyegbe BJ, Idrissou L, Gaya H, et al. Determinants of cocoa farmer's participation in the innovation platform of the humidtropics programme in Southwestern Nigeria. Int J Environ Agric Res. 2016;2(11). Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstreams/a1e9bc3c-3aed-43ad-8460-d818e67874b9/download
Tennhardt LM, Lambin EF, Curran M, Schader C. Implementation of sustainable farming practices by cocoa farmers in Ecuador and Uganda: the influence of value chain factors. Front Sustain Food Syst. 2023;7:1167683. doi: http://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1167683
Inkoom EW, Dadzie SKN. Cocoa farmers' preference and willingness to pay for climate-smart extension services (CES): a choice experiment approach. SAGE Open. 2025;15(2). doi: http://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251335857
Akulibile J, Tandoh BJ, Mbroh J, Mahama JA. Impact of certification programs on cocoa productivity and farmers' welfare in Ashanti Region, Ghana. Agric Sci Int J. 2025;1(3):21-40. Available from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://airccse.com/agrij/papers/1325agrij03.pdf
Bemelmans J, Maertens M. Implementation and effectiveness of corporate-driven smallholder cocoa certification schemes in Indonesia. Agric Econ. 2025;13:30. doi: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40100-025-00375-5
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). National cocoa value chain policy [Internet]. Freetown: MAF; 2019 [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://bafs.org.sl/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SL-Cocoa-Value-Chain-Policy-2019-.pdf
Tham-Agyekum EK, Ankuyi F, Asiedu P, Juantoa B, Abourden GA, Bakang JE, et al. Cocoa farmers' participation in public and private agricultural extension delivery in Amenfi Central District, Ghana. Int J Humanit Educ Soc Sci. 2024;3(4):1-4. doi: http://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v3i4.761
Buabeng K, Löhr K, Asare R, Sieber S. Unmasking gender disparities in cocoa farming: the case of female land ownership in the Ashanti and Western North regions of Ghana. J Soc Econ Dev. 2024;26(3):1-18. doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s40847-024-00378-w
Ankuyi F, Tham-Agyekum EK, Ankrah D, Oduro-Owusu AY, Bakang JE, Boansi D, et al. Beyond certification: investigating the nexus between compliance with sustainable agriculture standard and livelihood assets of certified smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana. Cogent Food Agric. 2023;9(1):2256556. doi: http://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2256556
Diaz J, Gusto C, Silvert C, Jayaratne KS, Narine L, Couch S, et al. Intercultural competence in extension education: applications of an expert-developed model. EDIS. 2022;2022(5). doi: http://doi.org/10.32473/edis-wc421-2022
Oginni OC, Oseni JO, Awolala DO. Sustainable pathways: exploring farmers' perceptions of cocoa certification programme in South-West, Nigeria. Asian J Res Agric For. 2023;9(4):124-33. doi: http://doi.org/10.9734/AJRAF/2023/v9i4239
Abdul-Hanan A, Anang BT. Factors influencing participation of cocoa farmers in the government spraying programme in Ghana. Asian J Agric Ext Econ Sociol. 2018;22(2):1-9. doi: http://doi.org/10.9734/AJAEES/2018/38842
Kumi S, Kelly D, Woodstuff J, Lomotey RK, Orji R, Deters R. Cocoa companion: deep learning-based smartphone application for cocoa disease detection. Procedia Comput Sci. 2022;203:87-94. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2022.07.013
Bermudez S, Voora V, Larrea C, Luna E. Cocoa prices and sustainability [Internet]. Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development; 2022 Nov [cited 2023 Jun 13]. Available from: https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-11/2022-global-market-report-cocoa.pdf
Oya C, Schaefer F, Skalidou D. The effectiveness of agricultural certification in developing countries: a systematic review. World Dev. 2018;112:282-312. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.08.001
Quainoo-Mensah F, Afele JT, Gorleku DO. Cocoa agroforestry systems and yield dynamics within the Offinso Municipality of Ghana. Pelita Perkeb (Coffee Cocoa Res J). 2023;39(2):129-40. doi: http://doi.org/10.22302/iccri.jur.pelitaperkebunan.v39i2.553
Dröge S, Jusrin MJ, Verbist B, Prasetyo LB, Maertens M, Muys B. No effect of Rainforest Alliance cocoa certification on shade cover and bird species richness in Sulawesi, Indonesia. J Nat Conserv. 2025;84:126849. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2025.126849
Coulibaly TP, Du J, Diakité D. Sustainable agricultural practices adoption. Agriculture. 2021;67(4):166-76. doi: http://doi.org/10.2478/agri-2021-0015
Tambo JA, Mbugua F, Duah SA, Oppong-Mensah B, Ocloo CY, Williams F. Pest risk information, agricultural outcomes and food security: evidence from Ghana. Food Secur. 2023;15(6):1667-83. doi: http://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-023-01398-w
Opoku CH. The role of certificates and labels for cocoa in the face of climate change: a scientific review. Am J Clim Change. 2024;13(2):281-313. doi: http://doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2024.132015
Vinci G, Ruggeri M, Gobbi L, Savastano M. Social life cycle assessment of cocoa production: evidence from West Africa. Resources. 2024;13(10):141. doi: http://doi.org/10.3390/resources13100141
Akinwale JA, Ojerinde KD, Owoade EO. Determinants of farm certification compliance for sustainable cocoa production in Ondo State, Nigeria. J Agric Environ Int Dev. 2019;113(1):97-112. doi: http://doi.org/10.12895/jaeid.20191.930
Krumbiegel K, Tillie P. Sustainable practices in cocoa production: the role of certification schemes and farmer cooperatives. Ecol Econ. 2024;222:108211. doi: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108211
Folefack AJ, Ngwack FS, Muluh GA, Geitzenauer M, Mathe S. A comparative cost-benefit analysis between fairtrade certified and non-certified cocoa production in the South-West region of Cameroon. J Agric Rural Dev Trop Subtrop. 2021;122(2):321-33. doi: http://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-202112035151