Impact of Personal Characteristics of Farmers on Cocoa Yields: Case of Centre Region, Mbangassina Municipality, Cameroon

Abstract

Cameroon is the fifth largest cocoa producer in the world with approximately 220,000 tons of cocoa produced annually. Many factors account for this
productivity, amongst which are ageing farms and personal characteristics of farmers. The study follows a hypothetico-deductive methodology through which
a random sampling technique was adopted and relevant primary data was gathered with the aid of a structured questionnaire administered to 150 cocoa farmers from
5 villages; Talba, Biakoa, Goura II, Mbangassina, and Bilomo. Correlation analysis and ordinary least squares regression were used to examine the relationship and
effects between socio-economic variables and cocoa yields. Findings showed a positive correlation between the socio-economic variables and cocoa yields, socioeconomic factors such as experience in cocoa farming, number of farms, source of labour, farm size, income were statistically significant at p = 1%, 5%, and 10%. Personal characteristics such as farm size, farming experience, percentage of income from cocoa farming, source of labour, number of farms per cocoa farmer,
and cocoa price had a significant impact on cocoa yields. However, personal characteristics such as age, sex, marital status and household size did not show
any significant impact on cocoa yields. Thus, professionalizing cocoa farmers and training of farmers in good cocoa business practices can go a long way to
improve cocoa productivity.