Perceived Effect of Postharvest and Value Addition Technologies on Cocoa Farmers’ Productivity in Akwa Ibom State (original) (raw)
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EFFECTS OF IMPROVED COCOA TECHNOLOGIES ON INCOME AND POVERTY LEVELS OF FARMERS IN ONDO STATE
South Asian Journal of Development Research, 2019
The study assessed the effects of the improved cocoa technologies on income and poverty levels of farmers adopting improved technology in the study area. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 200 cocoa farmers from 4 Local Government Areas of Ondo State. Primary data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the instrumental variable method and Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model. Results showed that the improved technologies adopters were more exposed to formal education and cultivated larger hectares of farm-land as compared to non-adopters. The non-adopters were older and more experienced in farming than the improved technologies adopters. Education, membership of farmers’ association, farm size, influenced adoption decisions of improved technologies significantly and positively. The parameter estimates of the regression model for the determinants of farm income showed that household size, farm size and yield were positive and statistically significant at 1% level. The parameter estimates of the regression model for the determinants of poverty showed that household size was positive and statistically significant at 1%; while education and years of experience were negative and statistically significant. The proportion of adopters whose per capita income fell below the poverty line was 11.5% while that of non-adopters was 35.4%. The poverty gap index for adopter and non-adopters were 2.3% and 6.7% respectively. In addition, the severity of poverty among adopters was 0.69% and 1.89% for non-adopters. It was recommended that cocoa farmers in the study area should be provided with timely subsidized inputs to boost their production activities and hence minimize discontinuation of adoption. There is need for more awareness and sensitization programmes on use of improved technologies and effective monitoring and evaluation team for the cocoa farmers in order to guide them on the use of these technologies which has been introduced to them and also get feedback from the farmers.
Postharvest practices and farmers’ perception of cocoa bean quality in Cameroon
Agriculture & Food Security, 2015
Background: After the closure of Cameroon's National Produce Marketing Board in 1990, rigorous measures no longer existed to control production of quality cocoa. This study assesses farmers' knowledge of postharvest practices that could influence cocoa bean quality (CBQ), their perception of quality cocoa and the factors that hinder good farming and postharvest practices (GFPHP). We also make suggestions on how quality control can be incorporated in the production chain to improve on CBQ produced. Methods: In a cross-sectional, purposive study in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon, 100 farmers were enrolled from 10 villages (10 from each village) which make up the major production area in Agro-ecological Zone IV of Cameroon. Farmers were administered a semi-structured questionnaire in the language they best understood. Results: Cocoa farming in this area is a tradition and our results show that 97 % of farmers are males and acquired farming practices mainly through their family member (43 %) and/or friends (34 %). Farms are self-owned, 76 and 85 %, respectively, are less than 5Ha and have been cultivated for more than 20 years. Only 10 % of farmers could perceive quality cocoa using physical characterization. Although more than 95 % of farmers knew GFPHP, only 48 % undertake these practices. Farmers' focus was on bean weight and not on CBQ and 64 % of farmers think quality has little impact on the price. Most farmers (71 %) sell to "buyam-sellams" who care little about quality. The proportion of respondents who acquired knowledge through formal learning was significantly higher than those who did so from informal learning with regards to both good cocoa production practice (p = 0.036) and appreciation of quality attributes (p = 0.043). Subsidizing inputs, access to credits, creating cooperatives, regulating price of cocoa and training on postharvest management in decreasing order could enhance practices that will ensure quality cocoa production. Conclusion: GFPHP is important in the production of quality cocoa. Left alone, farmers will not pay attention to these quality attributes especially as premium quality is not rewarded. Organizing farmers into cooperatives will reduce the link between farmers and companies exporting cocoa and alleviate most bottlenecks in the sector.
Assessment of Benefits Derived by Cocoa Farmers from Cocoa Development Unit Activities of Oyo State
Journal of Human Ecology
The study was carried out to assess the benefits derived by Cocoa farmers from Cocoa Development Unit (CDU) of Oyo state. Structured and validated interview schedule was used to collect relevant information from Sixty Cocoa farmers randomly selected from four major cocoa producing areas. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and Pearson Correlation was used as inferential statistical tool. Evidence from the data analyzed, the respondents had benefited from CDU activities ranging from skill improvement in cocoa production and economic gains. Empirically, age (r =-0.269), martial status (r =-0.298) shows negative and significant relationship with benefits from CDU activities while sex (r =-0.018) shows negative but non significant relationship. Education (r = 0.331) had positive and significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities and farming experience (r = 0.022) shows positive but non significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities. Based on the findings of the study, it is therefore recommended that training should be organized for Cocoa farmers in the state on various cocoa processing methods in order to have high quality grade of cocoa for export.
Adoption of Some Cocoa Production Technologies by Cocoa Farmers in Ghana
Sustainable Agriculture Research, 2012
Adoption of the cocoa (Theobroma cacao) production technologies recommended to cocoa farmers by Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) had been low, leading to yield and production levels below potential. To investigate this issue, a formal socioeconomic sample survey of 300 cocoa farmers selected randomly, by a multi-stage sampling technique, from all the cocoa growing regions of Ghana was conducted with a structured questionnaire for the individual interviews. The adoption rates of CRIG-recommended technologies such as control of capsids with insecticides, control of black pod disease with fungicides, weed control manually or with herbicides, planting hybrid cocoa varieties and fertilizer application were 10.3%, 7.5%, 3.7%, 44.0% and 33.0%, respectively. Adoption models indicated that credit, number of cocoa farms owned by the farmer, gender, age of the cocoa farm, migration, cocoa farm size, and cocoa yield affected the adoption decisions of cocoa farmers concerning the CRIG-recommended technologies analyzed in this study.
The technical efficiency, determinants of production and the sources of inefficiency in cocoa production in Oyo State are investigated using a stochastic frontier production function which incorporates a model for inefficiency effects. The study employed the use of cross-sectional data from farm survey conducted on a sample of 90 cocoa farmers from seven local government areas in Oyo State. Results showed that, farm size (1%) and fertilizer quantity (1%) are the major factors associated with changes in the output of cocoa production while on the farmer's specific socioeconomic variables, only three, namely: level of education, extension contact and family size were found to be the significant factors accounting for the variation in efficiency among cocoa farmers. The estimated variance parameter (2 σ) for the farmers was 0.5427 (significant at 1%). The estimated gamma (γ) parameter revealed that there are variations in the cocoa output among the cocoa farmers in the area and this variation are due to the differences in their technical efficiencies. The farmers' average technical efficiency is 97%, which suggest an appreciable use of inputs in productivity. INTRODUCTION In Nigeria cocoa is one of the major export crops in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Although its contribution to the total national exports earning during the past two decades dropped considerably due to the enormity of foreign exchange earning of crude petroleum, it still remains the nation most significant agricultural export crop (ICCO, 2001). Cocoa cultivation gained prominence rapidly in Nigeria such that by 1965, Nigeria became the second largest producer in the world. Among others, cocoa production in Nigeria performs the following economic roles. Provision of raw materials for cocoa industries, Provision of revenue for the government, it contributes to aggregate export earnings and provides sources of income to farmers and to many other groups. It also provides market for various agro-chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers. It also provides employment for thousands of people both at the farm level and at the industrial processing stage. Cocoa is a concentrated food with high nutritive value. It provides carbohydrate, protein, fat and minerals. Again it is usually used for making beverages, wine, chocolate, cream and livestock feed. In 1962, Nigeria was second largest cocoa producer in the world with about 97% of its total production coming from the southwestern region (Amos, 2007). In recent time, however, the trend seems to have changed with production consistently below 1970 figure, which stood at 30,700 tonnes. The fall in cocoa output may be attributable to two reasons. First, is the Dutch disease, which caused negligence of the agricultural sector by the past administrations due to the discovery of the petroleum resources, which accounts for about 97% of the nation's foreign exchange earnings. Second, is the inherent problem associated with cocoa production such as inadequate investment of public and private sectors in cocoa production, rising costs of production, price instability, differences in management systems and declining productivity due to ageing trees (Abang, 1994).
Farmers' Management Practices and the Quality of Cocoa Beans in Upper Denkyira District of Ghana
Asian Journal of Agricultural …, 2011
The study was a survey to investigate farmers' management practices to ensure quality of cocoa beans in the Upper Denkyira District of Ghana. Forty cocoa farmers were randomly selected from four communities in the district and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The study showed that the major problems affecting the quality of cocoa beans in the district were financial constraints, pests and diseases, high cost of spraying and incidence of weeds. These accounted for 91.5% of the problems affecting the quality of cocoa beans. The main practices adopted by farmers to ensure high quality cocoa beans were proper drying, regular spraying and proper fermentation. In order to enhance the quality cocoa beans, farmers recommended the provision of credit to farmers, education on post-harvest management practices, and provision of input subsidies. It was concluded that farmers were conversant with the proper management practices and applied very strict measures to ensure quality cocoa beans. Farmers' good management practices accounted for the quality premium enjoyed by the country on the international market. The study recommended that the cocoa mass cocoa spraying exercise should be extended to cover all farmers who currently do not benefit to reduce the effects of pests and diseases.
Assessment of agricultural practices for improving quality of cocoa beans: South-West Cameroon
International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2019
Cocoa is the main cash crop in Cameroon, with about 30% of Gross Domestic Product of agricultural produce for export and processing. Many studies depict that, despite the efforts of Cameroonian producers, the quality of their production still needs improvement. This research work was carried out in the MEME district southwest region of Cameroon, with the aim to assess the different agricultural practices used by producers to improve the quality of their cocoa beans. Research method: Seventy-eight cocoa farmers were chosen in that district and interviewed using structured questionnaires and personal observations if possible. Findings: Our survey shows that the difficulties farmers face in providing better cocoa beans quality reside in the financial credits; diseases and pests; the cost of inputs including spraying cost and lack of access to energy. These constituted 83.89% of the difficulties related to the quality of cocoa beans in that area. Also, our findings depicted that to ensure the quality of cocoa beans, most farmers apply normal spraying, proper fermentation and proper drying. Research limitation: The lack of technical know-how in good agricultural management practices, lack of input subsidies, credit facilities and insufficient electricity grid are the obstacles that reduce the quality of cocoa beans. Original value: We recommend that cocoa mass spraying be extended to all farmers, to prevent pests and diseases effects; In addition, facilitate access to credit and increase the electricity grid; which will enable easy access to new technologies to dry cocoa beans.
Efficiency Appraisal of Cocoa Farming in Ondo State, Nigeria
Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, 2021
The study analyzed the costs and returns of cocoa farming in Ondo State, Nigeria. The socio-economic characteristics, sources of finance, cost and returns and constrain associated with cocoa production were examined. Data were collected from 90 respondents by means of structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ranking and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that, average age of the respondents was 57.2 years. This indicates that majority of the respondents are aged, male (78.9%), married (75.6%), had more than 20 years farming experience (53.3%) and source their capital through personal savings (94.4%). The gross margin analysis showed that cocoa production incurred a total variable cost of ₦64,588.38 and earned total revenue of ₦90,584.50 per hectare with gross margin of ₦25,995.12 and total cost of ₦74,059.09 and net revenue of ₦16,524.41. The Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) was1.22. This is an indication that for every naira invested on coc...
Analysis of cocoa processing and marketing in Abia State, Nigeria
Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2020
The study analysed Cocoa processing and marketing in Abia State, Nigeria. It specifically assessed the socio-economic characteristics of the cocoa processors, the structure and conduct of cocoa processors, cost and returns, marketing efficiency and constraints to cocoa processing and marketing in the study area. A total of 120 cocoa processors and marketers were randomly selected from the selected local governments purposively chosen using a multistage sampling procedure. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from cocoa processors who also engage in marketing of cocoa. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that majority (56.7%) of the processors and marketers were males, with a mean age of 51.35 years, literates (98.3%), married (86.7%), members of cooperative society (75%,), had extension contact (60%) and have a mean household size of 5 persons with 11.2 years processing and marketing experience. Cost and return analysis ...