Enhancing Cocoa Beans Quality through Improved Cultural Practices in Major Cocoa Producing States of Nigeria

Subject Areas : Farm Management

جیمز  آیگون ¹ (FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA NIGERIA)
آلبونمی  آشیمولو ² (FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA NIGERIA)
استیفن  آدیگون ³ (FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA NIGERIA)
Samuel  Mesele ⁴ (FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA)
Eniola  Fabusoro ⁵ (Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta)

Received: 2016-09-13 Accepted : 2017-05-03 Published : 2017-09-01

Keywords: Nigeria, cocoa, cocoa bean quality, improved cultural practice, best practice,

Abstract :

In West Africa, low adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers has been partly due to the complexity of the innovation structure or new knowledge beyond the farmers’ socio-economic adaptive capacities. Different attempts have been made to improve cocoa beans quality in Nigeria among which was the recommendation of ‘improved cultural practices’ or ‘best known practices’ (ICMP). This had recorded little success because of the complexity and enormity of the ICMP. The present study, therefore, made an attempt to resolve this, in the major cocoa growing states of Nigeria, through farmers-researcher participatory approach with the aid of interview guide. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Principal Component Analysis procedures in SPSS to identify the minimum essential practices out of the overall ICMP for sustainable cocoa production. The result showed that cocoa farmers practiced 47 activities recognized as ICMP which were grouped as nursery, on farm, harvesting or post-harvest activities. The highest overall percentage use of any of these activities was 3 %, while the least being smaller than 1 %. It was found that 13 out of 47 activities contributed 71.45 % to the overall ICMP, whereas the current cumulative percent use of these 13 activities was 28 %. The individual percent use of each of the 13 activities was about 3 %. The highest contributors among the 13 activities were coded ba1 and ba11 while the least was bb4. Efforts to intensify the use of these 13 activities rather than the 47 activities should be encouraged among farmers for sustainable and high quality cocoa production.

References:

Adigun, JK. (2013). Analysis of cocoa farm cultural management techniques among cocoa farmers in South-West Nigeria. A Seminar paper presented to the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria. Pp 97.

Akanni, K. A., & Dada, A. O. (2012). Analysis of Labour-Use Patterns among Small-Holder Cocoa Farmers in South Western Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, B, 2(1B).

Aneani, F., Anchirinah, V. M., Owusu-Ansah, F., & Asamoah, M. (2011). An analysis of the extent and determinants of crop diversification by cocoa (Theobroma cacao) farmers in Ghana. African Journal of Agricultural Research 6(18), 4277-4287.

Aneani, F., Anchirinah, V. M., Owusu-Ansah, F., & Asamoah, M. (2012). Adoption of some cocoa production technologies by cocoa farmers in Ghana. Sustainable Agricultural Research, 1(1), 99-103.

Badrie, N., Bekele, F., Sikora, E., & Sikora, M. (2015). Cocoa agronomy, quality, nutritional, and health aspects. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 55(5),620-659.

Egwuatu, C. (2015) Repositioning Cocoa As A Major Cash Crop In Nigeria. Online article, 05 March from http://www.nigerianorientnews.com/?p=4521

Government of Nigeria (2015) National Bureau of statistics. Online article. Retrieved 20 May from http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/  

Hajra, N. G., & Yang, C. W. M. (2015). Diversification of the Tea Products----Global Scenario. Journal of Tea Science Research, 5(1), 23-26.

Bateman, R. (2008). Pesticide Use in Cocoa: A Guide for Training, Administrative and Research Staff (No. 632.95/B329). ICCO.

McMahon, P., Iswanto, A., Agung W.S., Sulistyowati, E., & Wahab, A. (2009). On-farm selection for quality and resistance to pest/diseases of cocoa in Sulawesi: Performance of selections against cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella. International Journal of Pest Management, 55(4), 325–337.

Olujide, M.G., & Adeogun, S.O. (2006). Assessment of cocoa growers farm management practices in Ondo State, Nigeria. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 4(2), 173-179.

Oluyole, K. (2009). The influence of technological changes on labour Availability: A case study of cocoa farming households in Ogun state, Nigeria. African Journal of Food Agricultural Nutrition and Development, 9(7), 3-9.

 

Onwuka, Emmanuel Chike, & Agatha Eguavoen(2007). Globalization and Economic Development: The Nigerian Experience. Journal of Social Sciences, 14(1), 45-51.

Padi, B., & Owusu, G. K. (1998). Towards an integrated pest management for sustainable cocoa production in Ghana. Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 18, 33-42

Shamshuddin, J.,  Anda, L.M, Fauziah, C.I., & Syed omar, S.R. (2011) Growth of Cocoa planted on highly weathered soil as affected by application of basalt and/or compost. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 42, 2751–2766.

Tony, L. (2004). Opportunities and threats to cocoa consumption. In: Cocoa future, a source book of some important issues facing cocoa industry (Flood J., Murphy R., eds). CABIFEDERACAFE, USDA, Chinchina (Columbia), pp. 25-32.

Vos,  J.G.M., & Ritchie, B.J. (2003). Discovery learning about cocoa. An inspirational guide for training facilitators. CABI Biosciences UK. pp. 4-7.

Yusuf, S. A. (2014). Role of Agriculture in Economic Growth & Development: Nigeria Perspective. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(1), 17-27.