International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

Cocoa enterprise is very critical as a source of livelihood of the people in the rural areas of the region where it is produced as it accounts for a high proportion of the household income. Cocoa production in Nigeria is essentially on a small-scale level and is mainly produced in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun. Over 50% of the total quantity of cocoa produced for export or utilized locally per annum are from Ondo State. Of the global production, Africa production of cocoa beans has declined from 71.8% in 2007/2008 to 68% in 2009/2010. This study focuses on cocoa enterprises in ondo state, farmers/buyers perception of involvement in the enterprise as well as the constraints faced by them. Results show that that majority of the respondents had at least basic primary education as advocated by UNESCO. Cocoa farmers/buyers are of the perception that people see cocoa entrepreneur as well to do and have a lucrative business, they do not agree that cocoa entrepreneurs are better to do than their counterparts in other enterprises. There is an engagement in non-farm occupations by many of the farmers which serves as a means to augment their means of welfare. A larger proportion (89.3%) of the respondents indicated weather and climate variability, limited selling opportunities, lack of processing facilities international market fluctuations as major constraint faced by the enterprise.