Comparing farmers’ perception of climate effect on cocoa yield with climate data in the Humid zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Apart from the conventional inputs for cocoa production, climatic parameters have a significant effect on the yield of the crop globally. However, existing literature suffers a knowledge gap on the farmers' perceptions of climate effect on cocoa yield and its nexus with climate data. The chi-square test of independence, standardized anomaly index (SAI), multiple regression, z-distribution, and descriptive statistics were employed to investigate the socioeconomic and climate impacts on yield. The registered farmers (280) from the Osun State Cocoa Growers Association (OSCGA) in the Nigerian Humid Zone were the interviewees. Climate data were retrieved from the records of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Abuja, while the cocoa yield data were provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Osogbo from 1999 to 2019. The results revealed that climate affected cocoa yield and the yield was significant at p ≤ 0.05 in 1999 and 2000. Most farmers perceived that low temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, sunshine, and wind speed influenced cocoa yield positively. Farmers’ perception was influenced by age, marital status, household size, and educational level at p ≤ 0.01. Understanding the climate and its consequences on cocoa yield will help develop management practices, that were hitherto lacking in Osun State, Nigeria. This study presents the socioeconomic and climate effects on cocoa yield and makes recommendations for management practices in regions with similar ecological settings.