Determinants of Adoption of Cocoa Rehabilitation Techniques among Cocoa Farmers in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the determinants of cocoa rehabilitation techniques (CRTs) among farmers in Boki Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study employed a multistage random sampling technique to select cocoa farmers. The first stage was a purposive selection of the LGA. A total of eighty seven (87) cocoa farmers were randomly selected in the LGA. Well-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the farmers. CRTs considered in the study were coppicing, complete replanting, side grafting, top grafting, phased farm replanting, fertilizer application and planting under cocoa trees. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, percentages), and inferential statistics. Semi- log function was chosen based on the R2 value and number of significant variables. About 77.0% and 96.6% percent of the farmers were male and married, respectively. Mean age, household size, farming experience, age of cocoa farms and variance inflation factor (VIF) were 46years±10, 12±7,24 years ±9 and 18 years±10 and 1.75, respectively. It was revealed that age of farmers, farming experience and educational level of farmers significantly determined CRTs at 1 percent level of probability, respectively. Therefore, it is thus recommended that cocoa farmers in the study area should be encouraged to stay on the farms through provision of infrastructure to reduce rural-urban migration. Credit should be made accessible to the farmers so that they will be able to afford the costs involved in the practice of CRTs. CRIN and other stakeholders in cocoa production should ensure that farmers are encouraged to adopt and practice other CRTs.