Training Needs Assessment of Cocoa Farmers Association Members on Soil Management Techniques in Cross River State of Nigeria

The influence of soil fertility on the performance of any crop cannot be overemphasized. The study assessed cocoa farmers’ training needs on soil management techniques in Cross River State of Nigeria. Study data were obtained from random sample of farmers belonging to Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Cross River State. Average age of respondents was 54.4 years while many (53%) were between ages 41–60 years. On soil management practices, 67.9% did not spend any money to maintain soil on their cocoa farms. Majority (83.4%) did not use any inorganic fertilizer to increase soil fertility. The findings also revealed that cocoa farmers need high level of training in the area of use of simple soil analysis tool to determine soil fertility (74.2%), handling of diseased and mummified pods removed from the farms (67.9%), record keeping on the soil management activities on the farm (87.5%) and appropriate methods of soil replenishment to encourage better yield (63.8%). Study’s analysis showed that significant relationship exists between farmers’ farming experience (r=0.56, p=0.03), farmers’ income/ha from cocoa (r=0.45, p=0.00), farmers’ educational status (r=0.35, p=0.04) and cocoa farmers’ training needs on soil management practices in Cross River State, Nigeria. Study concluded that farmers need adequate information on how to manage soil for better yield and higher profit from cocoa farms. Key words: Cocoa, soil, training needs, Cross River, management techniques and Nigeria