scholarly journals Market Orientation and Entrepreneurial Proclivity as Antecedents of Innovative Behaviour: Implications for Cocoa Farmers in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 132-139
Author(s):  
Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum ◽  
Joseph Kwarteng ◽  
Ernest Laryea Okorley ◽  
Fred Nimoh ◽  
John-Eudes Bakang

Despite the increasing importance of innovation in literature, there is no agreement about its antecedents. This clearly makes it difficult and risky for cocoa farmers to choose suitable strategies to adopt, develop and promote successful innovations to fit their farm situations. The research questions were aimed at assessing the level of the entrepreneurial proclivity of cocoa farmers, their level of market orientation, their level of innovative behavior, and the influence of entrepreneurial proclivity and market orientation on innovative behavior. Cocoa farmers were sampled from all the six Cocoa Regions in Ghana. In total, 370 cocoa farmers, who participated in the Farmer Business School, were sampled using the multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). The study showed evidence that market orientation and entrepreneurial proclivity can be considered as antecedents of innovation with the key factors being, customer emphasis, intelligence dissemination, and market responsiveness. The study recommends improved flexibility in the cocoa marketing system of Ghana giving attention to the systems of customer/export options available to cocoa farmers.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum ◽  
Fred Nimoh ◽  
John-Eudes Bakang ◽  
Jones Ebenezer Osei ◽  
Kwadwo Amankwah ◽  
...  

The study assumes that participation in the Farmer Business School (FBS) gives the cocoa farmer an advantage over the non-participants. The following objectives were set to give an overall appreciation of the research; determine the extent to which participation in the FBS has influenced the market orientation of the cocoa farmers, determine the extent to which participation in the FBS has influenced the entrepreneurial proclivity of cocoa farmers and determine the extent to which participation in the FBS has influenced the livelihood of the cocoa farmers. With this in mind, 600 cocoa farmers were sampled in Ghana using the multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and the independent sample t-test. The results show that participation in the Farmer Business School indeed gives the cocoa farmers an advantage; market orientation (p<0.05), an entrepreneurial proclivity (p<0.05), and livelihood outcomes (p<0.05). There is a need to continually strengthen activities that promote these three key areas.


Author(s):  
Enoch Kwame Tham-Agyekum ◽  
Ernest Laryea Okorley ◽  
Joseph Kwarteng ◽  
John-Eudes Andivi Bakang ◽  
Fred Nimoh

The study sought to ascertain how the Farmer Business School (FBS) introduced in 2012 by the Ghana Cocoa Board as an extension approach makes the Ghanaian cocoa farmer more business and entrepreneurially minded. The research methods included using the descriptive survey and multi-stage sampling techniques to cover the six cocoa regions and 600 cocoa farmers. The 600 cocoa farmers selected were made up of 230 non-participants and 370 participants of the FBS. In terms of competency, the results showed that FBS participants had greater knowledge, a more positive attitude, and better skills than non-participants. In terms of market orientation, FBS participants were more competitor oriented, had less intelligence generation, were less market responsive, had less intelligence dissemination, had more customer emphasis, and had more interfunctional coordination than non-participants. The market orientation of cocoa farmers can be enhanced by provision of relevant practical experience for attitudinal change.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Anyamene ◽  
Chinyelu Nwokolo ◽  
Anulika Valentina Etele

Marriages being a legal union between a man and a woman that is supposed to produce a satisfactory relationship in which the couple involved can experience marital satisfaction. This study sought to determine the relationship between self-efficacy and marital satisfaction of married teachers in Anambra state. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study while one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Correlational research design was used in conducting the study. A sample size of 1,344 married teachers was drawn from a population of 6,987 married teachers in Anambra state public secondary schools. A multi-stage sampling procedure was followed selecting the sample. Two instruments: General Self-efficacy Scale and Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) were adopted and used for data collection. The instruments are standardised measures and have the following reliability coefficient; 0.96 for IMS, 0.87 and for GSS. Data was collected through direct delivery approach. Data collected were analysed using SPSS version 23. Pearson correlation coefficients and regression analysis were used to answer research questions and test the hypotheses. Findings of the study showed among others that there is very low or no relationship existing between married teachers’ Self-efficacy belief and their marital satisfaction. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended, among others that counselors interested in marriage therapy should empower married teachers to follow behaviour and activities that foster marital happiness through occasional lectures and counselling sessions. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0796/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


Author(s):  
Jonathan Akinsola Akinwale ◽  
Oluwajoba Emmanuel Folarin

Cocoa production in Nigeria has been on a downward trend in recent years. Low productivity from ageing cocoa trees and low technology uptake among the farmers are some of the contributing factors. Efforts are therefore ongoing to introduce cocoa hybrid technology to enhance cocoa farmers’ productivity. This study therefore examines factors influencing adoption of CRIN TC (TC 1- 8) cocoa hybrid technology among cocoa farmers in Oyo state, Nigeria. Using multi-stage sampling procedure, 80 respondents were sampled for the study. A well-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from the farmers. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results revealed that most (83.8%) of the farmers were male with the mean age of 55 years. It also showed that 43.8% of the farmers completed primary education while majority (51.3%) had a household size of 6-10 persons with a mean household size of 5 persons. The study also showed that 80% of the cocoa farmers got their information regarding cocoa hybrid through research institute. It was also found that most of the farmers had high level of adoption. Meanwhile, high cost of agrochemicals was identified as a major constraint toward adoption of CRIN TC (TC 1- 8) cocoa hybrid. Meanwhile, farmers age (β=-0.007) farming experience (β=-0.004) were identified as the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of the cocoa hybrid. Governments at various levels are encouraged to subsidise the price of agrochemicals which was discovered as major constraint to adoption of CRIN TC (TC1-TC8) cocoa hybrid technology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 061-068
Author(s):  
Michael Olusayo Okeniyi ◽  
Temitope Seun Okeniyi ◽  
Fatimoh Bolanle Mustopha

The study was a survey aimed at understanding the awareness level among cocoa farmers in Abia state on climate change, its effects on Pests and Diseases of cocoa and how they adapt and mitigate the effects. A multi stage-sampling procedure was used to select 50 respondents from Bende local government area and 50 respondents from Ikwuano local government area of Abia State. Result showed that 96% of the respondents are aware that climate change has a negative effect on cocoa production as a result of high incidence of Pest and diseases and that the effect ranges from high to moderate. Majority of the respondent in the study area adopted various adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on Pests and Diseases prevalence. High level of awareness, adaptation and coping strategies adopted by farmers, made them less vulnerable to the adverse effects of Pests and Diseases as a result of the change in climate has been currently experienced.


Author(s):  
T. Oluwaseun Lawal ◽  
Hannah Olubunmi Ajayi

The study assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of parents and children in the Child Rights Act and determined the level of implementation of Child Rights. The study adopted a survey research design. The population consisted of parents from the major three ethnic groups (Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling procedure was employed for the study. The sample size consisted of 120 parents and 120 children. Two self-designed instruments were administered on the participants. Three research questions were answered and two hypotheses tested. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency count, percentage, and One- Way ANOVA. The results revealed that (51.7%) of parents and (53.3%) of children were aware of the Child Rights Act. It further revealed that 76.7% of parents had a high level of knowledge of Child Rights. It also revealed the level of implementation of some specific rights by the parents. Also, the results revealed that there was a significant difference between the level of awareness and knowledge of parents based on their various tribes at 0.05 significant level(p<0.5). The findings provided information on aspects of child rights that parents need to pay more attention to so as not to deny the children of the rights.


2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-42
Author(s):  
T.B. Alao ◽  
A.S. Bamire ◽  
A.D. Kehinde

This paper aimed to study the gender differentials in agricultural financing in cocoa-based farming systems in Southwestern Nigeria. A multi stage sampling procedure was employed to select 200 cocoa farmers for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression model. The results revealed that cooperative societies are dominant sources of finance for both male and female cocoa farmers. The findings also revealed that male cocoa farmers have more sources of finance than their female counterparts in the study area. The determinant of access to finance for both male and female cocoa farmers was age; specific to male cocoa farmers were average income, household size and membership in cooperative societies while level of education and possession of collateral were specific to female cocoa famers. It was concluded that policy strategies aimed at improving access to finance must consider education and ownership of certain resources among female cocoa farmers and formation of cooperative societies among male cocoa farmers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2239
Author(s):  
Marzena Kramarz ◽  
Edyta Przybylska

Multimodal freight transport in cities is a complex, valid, and vitally important problem. It is more seldom underlined in scientific studies and included in cities’ strategies that devote more attention to passenger transport than freight transport. The increased utilization of multimodal transport matches current transport policy and at the same time, it is one of the most important challenges put before cities striving to achieve sustainable development. In this case, the paper embarks upon the problem of relations between multimodal transport development and the sustainable development of the cities. The objective of the paper is an analysis of the impact of the selected city of the Upper Silesian metropolis on the development of multimodal freight transport and an assessment of the impact of the development of multimodal transport on the sustainable development of the cities of the Upper Silesian metropolis. The authors developed three research questions in order to implement the adopted objective. The process of looking for the answer included four stages. Within the first and second stages, the literature studies and experts’ research allowed for identifying key factors of the multimodal transport development that a city may have an impact on. In the third stage, the research was two-fold and was based on a questionnaire and scenario analysis. Due to the individual character of each of the cities, scenarios were developed for Katowice, being the main economic center of Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis. As a result of the research, factors have been identified that must be included in a strategy of a city that strives for sustainable development. The last stage of the research focused on the initial concept of the multimodal transport development impact assessment on sustainable development of the cities. Conclusions developed at individual stages allowed for answering the research questions.


Author(s):  
T. V. Sabetova ◽  
M. V. Ponomarenko

The article considers t the problem of determination of the degree of influence of a number of factors on formation of innovative behavior of employees and their groups in organizations. According to the authors’ opinion, innovative activity of employees requires, on the one hand, their own abilities and motivation, and on the other hand, readiness of the organization and provision of necessary resources for employees both for creation and implementation of ideas and projects. The authors do not deny the influence of the national business culture on the features of innovative behavior and point out the need to take into account these features. However, they deny the existence of national features that obviously make innovation development of one country easier than others, and therefore consider the experience of different countries worthy of study, but at the same time its implementation is considered possible only after a critical rethinking for existing conditions. The authors point out that innovative behavior of employees is formed under the influence of factors that can be conditionally divided into those dependent and independent of management actions, the former being of particular interest due to the possibility of controlling them. Among them the following groups of factors are identified: (i) related to the peculiarities of management style; (ii) characteristics of the workplace and job responsibilities; (iii) factors related to interpersonal and intergroup relations, and (iv) organizational factors. The influence of the key factors of each group was analyzed and evaluated either from the standpoint of positive or negative impact on the formation of innovative behavior, or from the position of the strength of influence. Based on the experience of Chinese colleagues, a comparative ranking of the factors that determine the innovativeness of behavior was carried out, in terms of their significance. At the same time, the similarity of the factors determining the innovativeness of the behavior of employees in Chinese and Russian companies was revealed, but significant differences in the degree of such influence were detected. As a result, the authors’ named key success factors in the formation of innovative behavior of the staff: (i) support from the company’s management; (ii) availability of resources of all types; (iii) system of labour remuneration; (iv) composition and structure of the team, and (v) cooperation.


Author(s):  
G. T. Ajayi ◽  
A. Ajiboye

Consumers’ preference for local rice determines its demand. Therefore, the study was carried out to analyze consumers’ preference for local rice among households in Ekiti State. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for this study. A total of 240 women were randomly selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State. Primary data were obtained with the use of a well-structured interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistic like logistic regression. The mean age of the respondents was 38 years and more than half (53.3%) of the respondents were females. Most (70.0%) of the respondents had a mean family size of 7 persons. Most (87.0%) preferred local rice and factors influencing consumers’ preference for local rice include good nutritional value, quality of rice and good taste. Local rice was very much preferred by the respondents. Logistic regression shows that significant influence exists between price, taste, availability of rice and presence of particles and preferred choice of rice. Therefore, efforts should be made by the government to formulate price control policy on local rice for its affordability by the consumers and there should be improvement on processing technology of local rice to eliminate presence of particles for improved quality and good taste to enhance the consumers’ preference for choice of rice. Also, the government should support farmers through provision of incentives and credit facilities so as to produce more local rice for its availability all year round.


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