Cocoa Plantation among Smallholder Farmers: Towards Mitigating Socio-Economic Effects of COVID-19 in Nigeria

Abstract

Post COVID-19 socio-economic recovery has become the priority of both developed and developing countries. Smallholder farmers have been contributing to the non-oil sector of the economy in Nigeria. However, little effort is made in exploring the non-oil sector of the economy such as cocoa plantation as a way of mitigating the socio-economic effect of COVID-19 in the country. This paper primarily aims at exploring cocoa plantation among smallholder farmers to alleviate the socio-economic effect of COVID-19 in the country. The methodology used in this paper is a systematic literature review with content analysis resulting in identifying six themes. The results indicated that smallholder farmers have been actively partaking in cocoa plantation and the government has been supportive of them in this regard. It is further demonstrated that agricultural transformation contributes to economic diversification through innovative policy and capacity building among cocoa farmers in the country which are culminated in mitigating the socio-economic effect of COVID-19 in the recent. In conclusion, it is noteworthy to say that giving support especially coca sidling to smallholder farmers can be instrumental in bridging the vacuum created by COVID-19 in the country. Thus, it is suggested that interventions of individual philanthropists, government, and international communities will boost the morale and resilience of the farmers towards enhancing cocoa production to alleviate the socio-economic effect of COVID-19 in particular and maximize national economic growth in general.