Knowledge and control of cocoa black pod disease and factors influencing the sourcing of planting material by smallholder farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study assessed the level of awareness and management of cocoa black pod disease and factors influencing the sourcing of planting materials by smallholder farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria. A questionnaire, designed to assess farmers’ knowledge and control measures, was administered to 200 cocoa farmers. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a linear regression model to determine factors influencing planting material sourcing. The study revealed that the majority of farmers were small- or medium-scale, with a small household size, limiting the adoption of improved technology. A majority of smallholder farmers planted Amazon cocoa varieties while 21.4% of respondents did not know the variety of cocoa they planted. The majority of farmers used fungicides to control black pod disease, and respondents obtained cocoa planting materials from other farmers (71%) or from Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Stations and Agricultural Development Stations (29%). The study found that only three variables significantly predicted the source of cocoa planting materials: variety of cocoa planted, quantity of fungicide used per annum, and fungicide/harvest ratio. There is a need to extend agricultural development stations as well as increase extension services to help farmers getting improved cocoa varieties from authorized centers.