Assessment of agricultural practices for improving quality of cocoa beans: South-West Cameroon

Abstract

Purpose: Cocoa is the main cash crop in Cameroon, with about 30% of Gross Domestic Product of agricultural produce for export and processing. Many studies depict that, despite the efforts of Cameroonian producers, the quality of their production still needs improvement. This research work was carried out in the MEME district south-west region of Cameroon, with the aim to assess the different agricultural practices used by producers to improve the quality of their cocoa beans. Research method: Seventy-eight cocoa farmers were chosen in that district and interviewed using structured questionnaires and personal observations if possible. Findings: Our survey shows that the difficulties farmers face in providing better cocoa beans quality reside in the financial credits; diseases and pests; the cost of inputs including spraying cost and lack of access to energy. These constituted 83.89% of the difficulties related to the quality of cocoa beans in that area. Also, our findings depicted that to ensure the quality of cocoa beans, most farmers apply normal spraying, proper fermentation and proper drying. Research limitation: The lack of technical know-how in good agricultural management practices, lack of input subsidies, credit facilities and insufficient electricity grid are the obstacles that reduce the quality of cocoa beans. Original value: We recommend that cocoa mass spraying be extended to all farmers, to prevent pests and diseases effects; In addition, facilitate access to credit and increase the electricity grid; which will enable easy access to new technologies to dry cocoa beans.