Impact Assessment of TC Series Hybrid Cocoa Varieties on Productivity in Nigeria

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effect of the TC series hybrid cocoa on farmers’ output, determine accessibility to all aids given, the cost of accessing the aids under the programme and welfare effects of Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). Agricultural Transformation agenda (ATA) was targeted toward upgrading agricultural sectors through sustainable production system vis-a vis maintenance of existing farms, rehabilitation of old plantations, free distribution of TC series hybrid cocoa pods and seedlings worth millions of naira to cocoa farmers across cocoa producing zones of Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) farmers were randomly selected from the list of farmers who received from the distribution under the ATA programm. Primary data were collected from the sampled respondents with the use of structured questionnaires as well as focus group discussions. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation; and budgetary analysis – cost-benefit ratio. The analysis was done using stata 12 statistical package and the results were significant at 5%. Productivity was measured by the annual output, revenue and ratio of output to cost and revenue generated over the years under study. The mean household size in the study area was 7 ± 4. Ninety one percent of cocoa farmers in the study area planted amazon variety of cocoa and 71% of them do not belong to any social group. The mean years of experience of the respondents in farming were 17 ± 9. The results from the analysis showed that accessibility to input was high (66.5%), productivity was at a peak with an annual production of (386,819ton), and cost of input decreased greatly (₦1,981,433) thereby positively impacting revenue which increased greatly (₦30,234,207) and the welfare of farmers was relatively taken care of (41%). The study concludes that the agricultural transformation agenda (ATA) TC series hybrid cocoa distributed has a positive and significant impact on increasing cocoa productivity.