Fostering inclusivity: factors influencing women cocoa farmers’ access to agricultural extension services in Ghana

Women play vital roles in Ghana’s cocoa sector, yet they continue to face barriers in accessing agricultural extension services that are essential for improving productivity and livelihoods. This study examines the factors influencing women cocoa farmers’ access to extension services, focusing on their socio-economic characteristics, cooperative membership, relational networks, and trust in different communication channels. Using survey data from 160 women farmers and guided by the pluralistic agricultural extension framework, we employed a probit regression to analyse how these factors shape access to extension services. Membership in women’s cooperatives appears to enhance access to extension services while trust in mass media also plays a positive role. The inclusion of women extension officers is negatively associated with access, suggesting deeper cultural and institutional challenges. These findings highlight the need for inclusive communication strategies, strengthened women’s groups, and gender-responsive reforms to ensure equitable extension delivery in Ghana’s cocoa sector.