Authors : Obaniyi Kayode samuel, Aremu Charity, Abolusoro Stephen, Ajiboye Babatunde, Adeyonu , Abigail and Okunola Abiodun
Abstract: The demand for chocolate and cocoa products in the international markets are larger than supply due to certain constraints that affect its production. Among the recent and pressing challenges that have been neglected as a factor in cocoa production is climate change. Climate change which is characterized by drought, flood and high temperature has a negative significant impacts on cocoa and chocolate production in Sub-Saharan Africa. This research examines the impacts of climate change on chocolate and cocoa production using a case study of Nigerian cocoa farmers in the South West Region of the country. The research used descriptive survey type in addition to review work on the topic. The research instrument used was a structured questionnaire administered by trained interviewers a total number of 300 respondents were selected for interview during the growing season between 2016-2017 growing season .The result shows that 90% of the respondents experienced risk on their farms caused by an increase in temperature which has a greater impact on chocolate and cocoa production. Also, 90% experienced risk on their farms caused by change in rainfall pattern, furthermore, 90% experienced erosion on their farms caused by heavy precipitation during the previous year, 80% experienced risk caused by drought which lead to reduction in the yield from their farms , moreover, 40% reported flood incidence on their farms that claimed a loss of 10% of harvested crops that year. Therefore, it is highly recommended that modern adaptation and mitigation strategies should be introduced to farmers particularly, insurance of farms and weather update by agricultural extensions in the area while technological intervention through automation process should be introduced by engineering units and construction of dams to control excess water and make them available for production during drought season.
Obaniyi Kayode samuel, Aremu Charity, Abolusoro Stephen, Ajiboye Babatunde, Adeyonu , Abigail and Okunola Abiodun, 2019. Impacts of Climate Change on Chocolate and Cocoa Production. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 14: 9645-9650.