Socioeconomic impact of SARO agro allied organic cocoa programme on beneficiary cocoa farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

Organic cocoa farming involves cultivation of cocoa with rational use of allowable inputs (fungicides and bio-insecticides). SARO Agro Allied Nigeria and her foreign partner ADM/Schokinag started the organic cocoa project (OCP) in 2006/2007 cocoa season in four of their major operating states in Nigeria (Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Cross River). This study was designed to evaluate the income profile, biological and socioeconomic impact of OCP on the pilot farmers who were purposively selected for the study. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean and T-test statistics. Significant difference was recorded in 5 socioeconomic variables between 2007 and 2010, while a positive relationship was established between organic cocoa production, yield and farmers income profile. Three major sources of income (yield increase, savings from pesticide use reduction and premium) were identified from the 471 respondents. The cocoa yield increased from 0.5 mt/ha in 2007 to 0.73 mt/ha in 2010, there was 40% reduction in fungicide use which translated to N13.2 m savings for the 471 farmers, revenue from yield increase was N112.7 m, while revenue from premium for organic cocoa production was N24.7 m. Total revenue as a result of organic cocoa production per farmer was thus N319,745.22. Moreover, land under organic production by the pilot farmers was 1687 ha which the same remained over the study period. The study concluded that the OCP impacted positively in increased yield, input cost reduction, environmental and health improvement and increased revenue.