Cocoa Production in Cameroon: A Socioeconomic and Technical Efficiency Perspective

Abstract

Understanding the technical efficiency of smallholder farmers is primordial in appraising their farming skills especially for cocoa farmers. In this paper, we examine the technical efficiency of small scale farmers across Africa particularly Cameroon. The study also explores the cocoa sector, its impacts on the Cameroonian economy and the challenges it currently faces. To achieve this, we carried out a comprehensive survey of published scientific literature obtained through Web of Science, Research gate, Mendeley, and Google Scholar. Using this approach, we observed that cocoa is vital in Cameroon's economic development and that it is a sector dominated by smallholdings with inadequate access to economic and social resources. We also observed that provision of appropriate technical skills and financial access, would sustainably and enormously contribute to the growth of the cocoa sector, improve rural livelihoods and achieve food security.