Perception and Adoption of Integrated Pest Management for the Enhancement of Cocoa Production and Income among Cocoa Farmers in Osun State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined the perception of cocoa farmers on the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its impact on cocoa production and income. It described farmers' socio-economic characteristics, assessed their awareness and expenditures on IPM, and identified constraints to its adoption. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 150 farmers, and data were gathered through structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze, including frequency counts, percentages, means, Weighted Mean Scores (WMS), and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation (PPMC). Results showed that 51.3% of the farmers were male, 84.7% were married, and the mean age was 49.8 years. Most farmers (87.3%) were aware of IPM, with 92.1% having up to nine years of training. Farmers' perceptions revealed that improved farming systems were considered challenging to adopt (WMS=2.55), and a common attitude was using any available insecticide (WMS=3.87). Constraints to IPM adoption included limited access to market information, which ranked highest (WMS=2.39). A significant relationship was found between farmers' age, farming experience, and perception of IPM. Older farmers with more experience showed a greater tendency to adopt IPM practices. The study concluded that farmers in their prime age had positive perceptions of IPM and were willing to learn and apply the techniques. It recommended awareness programmes and better access to market information, particularly targeting male farmers in their productive years to encourage sustainable IPM adoption in the study area.