Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Output of Farmers’ in Three Management Systems Of Cocoa (<em>Theobroma</em>) Production in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research work was carried out to ascertain the factors affecting cocoa production investment among three management systems in Abia State. The production management systems examined were owner-managed, lease and share-crop management systems. Questionnaires and oral interview were jointly used to elicit data from a hundred and fifty randomly selected cocoa farmers cocoa in the study area. The data gathered were analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics such as tables and percentages, and multiple regression analysis. The results of the analysis show that farmers investment in cocoa production in each management system was affected by such factors as household size, farm size, management system, number of extension agent visitations, input cost and membership of cooperative society. Following the findings of this work, it is recommended that nothing less than providing expanding access to cheep input and land and using the management practices that gives the best output relative to the location of interest will increase the output performance in cocoa investment in Abia State.