Growing Cashews: Exploring the Socio-demographic Drivers in the Practice of Cashew Agroforestry in the Bono Region of Ghana

Abstract

Socio-demographic factors play a vital role in the practice of cashew agroforestry, where cashew is intercropped concurrently with food crops. This study explored the socio-demographic drivers of cashew agroforestry practice. The study employed a semi-structured questionnaire survey involving 401 randomly selected farmers across three districts in the Bono Region of Ghana between July 2022 and December 2023, using a quantitative method approach and quantitative research design. For sample selection, the study adopted stratified random and simple random sampling techniques. Data analysis involved the use of SPSS to analyse selected socio-demographic characteristics of cashew farmers in the three districts. Since the overall KMO value for the dataset was 0.728 (> 0.5) and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (p < 0.001), the data were deemed appropriate for factor analysis. The total variance explained was 61.78%. The practice of agroforestry was male-dominated (67%). Many practitioners had formal education (64%). Many years of general farming experience (77% up to 30 years) and cashew farming experience (98% up to 30 years) were observed in the study. The study depicted an ageing population. Exploratory factor analysis identified demographic factors that mostly influenced the practice of cashew agroforestry. Four main demographic factors (Farming Expertise, District of Existence of Cashew Farm, Household Characteristics and Personal Relationships and Status) mostly influenced the practice of cashew agroforestry. Factor analysis, which identified key factors influencing cashew agroforestry, was valuable. Policy recommendations involve credit interventions for females and attractive packages for youth in cashew agroforestry.