Effects of Agricultural Rehabilitation Programme on Enhanced Value Chain: The Roles of Farmers’ Willingness and Commitment to Participate

Vollständiger Abstract

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This study investigates the impact of the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme (CRP) on the Enhanced Value Chain (EVC) within the Ghanaian cocoa sector. Central to this inquiry is the role of human agency, specifically examining how Farmers’ Willingness to Participate (FWP) and Farmers’ Commitment to Participate (FCP) function as psychological and behavioural mediators between institutional interventions and value chain optimisation. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Value Chain Theory, the research develops a conceptual framework that positions the CRP as a primary driver of agricultural restoration to foster an enhanced value chain. The study utilises a quantitative approach to assess the structural relationships between replanting initiatives, technical support, and the resulting improvements in cocoa productivity and quality. The framework tests seven hypotheses (H1 through H7), focusing on the direct effects of CRP on the value chain and the indirect effects facilitated by farmer engagement. Preliminary conceptual analysis suggests that while the CRP provides the necessary technical and financial infrastructure (replacing aged/diseased trees and improving soil fertility), the "translation" of these inputs into value chain gains is heavily dependent on farmer disposition. Barriers such as land tenure insecurity and financial risk are identified as significant inhibitors of willingness. Conversely, when institutional trust and extension services are robust, farmers’ commitment acts as a critical pathway that ensures the long-term sustainability of the cocoa value chain, leading to enhanced market competitiveness and rural economic growth. This research contributes to the discourse on agricultural economics by shifting the focus from purely technical rehabilitation to a socio-behavioural model. The study provides means by which strategic quality processes ascertain an enhanced value chain for marketability. By isolating "willingness" and "commitment" as distinct mediating variables, the study provides policymakers and stakeholders, such as COCOBOD, with actionable insights into tailoring inclusive interventions that foster a sense of ownership among smallholder farmers, thereby securing the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry.