FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF COPPICING AND REPLANTING IN REHABILITATING COCOA PRODUCTION IN ONDO STATE

Abstract

Factors affecting the adoption of coppicing and replanting in rehabilitating cocoa production were investigated in Ondo State. It specifically examined among others the socio-economic characteristic of cocoa farmers and its effect on cocoa production, farmers awareness of declining cocoa production, the various rehabilitation practices and the adoption potential of respondents with respect to coppicing and replanting. 125 cocoa farmers were randomly chosen from five purposively selected Local Government areas of Ondo State. Data bordered on farmers' socio-economic characteristics, technology adoption and rehabilitation practices beside others were collected using a set of structured inter view schedule to which the farmers responded. The result revealed that 96.0% of farmers were aware of declining cocoa production, 60.8% had cocoa plantation more than 25 year old. The findings also showed that farmers had knowledge of cocoa rehabilitation practices, but 84.8% actually adopted replanting while 15.2% adopted coppicing. The regression result further showed that the selected variables contributed significantly to the adoption of replanting (R2 = 0.618) than coppicing (R2 = 0.104). It was therefore suggested among other that farmers must be motivated through extension agent to embrace replanting coupled with good husbandry and effective management practices in order to revive moribund, degenerated and abandoned cocoa plantation for increased production.