Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Cocoa Productivity in Cocoa-producing Areas of Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted in Nigeria to empirically evaluate the determinants of the Cocoa productivity in three zones that are cocoa–producing areas of Nigeria (Southwest, South/South-East and North-Central). Geo-referenced primary data were collected from cocoa farmers in ten (10) cocoa-producing states from the selected zones using Open Data Kit (ODK Collect) and focus group discussion. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results from the pooled data of states visited revealed the dominance of males (94%) among cocoa farmers, with a mean age at 55.7 ± 13.30 years, year of cocoa farming experience of 38.5 ± 13.51 years, household size of 8 ± 3.00 persons and with only two persons assisting on the cocoa farm as family labour, on average. The mean farm size was 3.68 ± 2.66 ha, and the mean years of the cocoa plantation were 28.48 ±16.08. Cocoa productivity is generally low, with Southwest zones had 503 kg/ha, the South/South-East recorded 375 kg/ha, while North Central had, 148 kg/ha. The regression analysis showed model with good fit and combined influence on all significant variables of cocoa productivity. Household size and farm size (p<0.001), land ownership, fertilizer access (p<0.05), and use of fungicides are significant at a 10% level of probability. This implies that increasing the area cultivable to cocoa with land ownership without litigation or any form of sanctions, fertilizer access and use of fungicides will increase cocoa productivity in all regions. This study recommends the provision and increased access of cocoa-specific fertilizer to boost productivity in areas where land is unavailable for production to boost cocoa yield in producing states