ABSTRACT

This study investigated the factors which determine the output of cocoa farmers in Atakunmosa East Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 120 respondents as sample for the study. Primary data used for the study were collected through a field survey using a structured interview schedule. Data analysis was carried out using frequencies, percentages, means, and regression techniques. Results of the descriptive analysis revealed that the majority of the respondents were middle-aged (mean = 48.91) (79.2%), married (72.5%), male (78.3%), Christians (52.5%), farmers with male-headed (80.00%) household, having a mean household size of 7 persons per household. Most (48.3%) of the respondents had secondary education; and were members of co-operative societies (90%). The mean cocoa farm size, years of cocoa farming experience, and cocoa output were 6.03 hectares, 19 years, and 4.22 tons per year respectively. Most (51.26%) cultivated crops apart from plantain were kola-nut, plantain, and oil palm. The major problems faced by the farmers were the high cost of hired labour (65.83%), unavailability of farm inputs (65.00%), high transportation cost (55.83%), low prices (52.5%), high cost of chemicals (54.17%) and inadequate extension services (49.10%). Regression results showed that cocoa farm size positively influenced the output of cocoa, while the number of chemicals negatively influenced the output of cocoa in the study area. The study concluded that there was a low level of cocoa production in the study area due to the fact that increase in output is achieved by increasing the area of land under cultivation, which is not sustainable. Thus, appropriate technology should be developed from the point of view of the cocoa farmers in order to improve their output.