- University: University of Copenhagen
- Place of defence: Copenhagen
- Keywords: Agroforestry, Cocoa, Climate resilience, Logistic regression, Propensity score matching, Smallholder farmers, Village Savings and Loan Associations
Abstract
Climate change threatens cocoa production in Ghana, where traditional farming systems are struggling to cope with increasing environmental stresses. Despite the proven benefits of agroforestry for climate resilience, adoption rates remain low among smallholder farmers. This study examined how Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) influence the adoption of climate-resilient agroforestry practices among cocoa farmers in Ghana's Wassa Amenfi West District. A mixedmethods approach was adopted in this study. Two hundred three farmers (102 VSLA members and 101 non-members) across 15 communities combined with focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analysis revealed that VSLA members were 7.08 times more likely to adopt agroforestry practices than non-members (p = 0.002). VSLA membership significantly enhanced access to credit, with 55.9% of members obtaining loans compared to 14.9% of non-members. Members also demonstrated higher participation in agroforestry training and knowledge-sharing activities. The finding from qualitative data indicated that VSLAs served as platforms for peer-to-peer knowledge transfer and provided crucial financial resources for purchasing seedlings and hiring labour. Nonetheless, challenges including limited loan sizes, the loss of youth to illegal mining, and inadequate seedling availability constrained broader agroforestry adoption. These findings suggest that VSLAs function as an important players for promoting sustainable agricultural transitions by addressing both financial and knowledge barriers, with important implications for climate adaptation policies targeting smallholder farming communities.
