Farmers' awareness of the effects of white-patch disease on the yield of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in a tropical farmland of Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the farmers' awareness of the effect of white patch disease on the yield of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in Osun State, Nigeria.
It was carried out in three ecological zones of the State, to investigate socio-economic characteristics and the levels of the economic damages of the disease on yield of cocoa. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 150 respondents. A validated and pretested interview schedule was used to elicit information from respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages, and cost-benefit ratio. The results revealed that 66% of the respondents were above 50 years of age and majority (68%) of them were male. 40 percent were without formal education and farming was on land area of between 1 and 2 ha.
90% of the respondents were aware of the disease and it affects mainly the trunk. The causes and control measures are not known to the farmers.
Majority (60% and 52%) confirmed that the disease is easily spread and rate of the spread was rapid. 74% of the respondents harvested more than 2000 kg
per acre before infestation, this however reduced to 22% after infestation. The cost-benefit-ratio was 5.7%.
In conclusion, white patches had negative effect on cocoa yield. Control measures should be developed to prevent ravaging of cocoa from white patches disease.