DETERMINANTS OF COCOA PRODUCTION UNDER THE NEW COCOA POLICY IN OSUN STATE NIGERIA

 ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to access the determinants of cocoa production under the new cocoa policies in Osun State, Nigeria. The cocoa policies reviewed were soil fertility, access to inputs, pest and diseases, access to credit, access to land and land management, access to information and they were examined to check if it has impact on cocoa production.

Ninety (90) respondents were sampled using a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin and regression analysis. Education, size of the plot and amount spent on labour were the factors significant at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively. For access to soil fertility policy, most of the farmers practice intercropping with (72.8%), they use organic fertilizer and they practice soil conservation practices such as, mulching and cocoa wastes. Foraccess to input policy most of the farmers use improved seedling with (77.8%) and those who acquired the improved seedling at subsidized rate had a percentage of (71.1%), Most of the farmers do not use the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative created by the government because it is not available within reach, with a percentage of (38.9%). For access to pests and diseases policy, Most of the farmers use fungicides with (79%) and they were introduced to new ways of handling pests and diseases such as Integrated Crop Pest Management (ICPM) and good agricultural practices. For access to credit policy, Most of the farmers were aware of the "Anchor Borrowers Program" with a percentage of (78.9%) and those who don't have access to Anchor Borrowers Program have a percentage of (66.7%) because they get funds for their production through their own personal savings with a percentage of (58.6%), cooperatives with (39.6%) and others with (1.8%).From this research work that was carried out in the study area, some of the agricultural policies accessed from the respondents were implemented and not all. Those agricultural policies implemented have significant improvement in cocoa production in the study area.

Keywords: Determinants, Cocoa Production, New Cocoa Policy and Osun State

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
DECLARATION lV
CERTIFICATION V
LIST OF TABLES Vlll
LIST OF FIGURES IX

CHAPTER ONE

1 .0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Problem statement 3

1.3 Objectives of the study 4

1.4 Justification of the study 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2. 1 lntroduction of cocoa 6

2.2 History and production of cocoa in Nigeria 6

2.3 Cocoa production in Osun State 9

2.4 New presidential initiatives on cocoa policies in Nigeria 11

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Study area

3.2 Sampling technique

3.3 Data collection

3.4 Analytical tools

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESUL T AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio -economic characteristics of the respondents

4.2 Factors affecting cocoa production in the study area

4.3 Cropping pattern of the Respondents used

4.4 To determine the sources of the input

4.5 Profitability of Cocoa Farmers Under The New Cocoa Policy

4.6 New Cocoa Policies and Their Impacts on Production

4.6.1 Impact of cocoa policies on production

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS 44