Profitability and Utilization of Farmer Business School Extension Approach on Smallholder Cocoa Farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

This study is designed to investigate the profitability and utilization of Farmer Business School (FBS) extension approach on cocoa smallholder farmers in Ondo and Osun States of Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select (160) respondents. The primary data were collected through structured questionnaire. For the data analysis, statistical tools such as budgeting technique and logitistic regression were used. Results of the budgeting technique showed that each farmer of the FBS approach had a mean profit of ₦ 81,134.65 with a cost benefit ratio of 1.09. The results of logistic regression revealed that the age of cocoa farmer, level of education, extension contact, farm size and cocoa annual income are major determinants influencing the utilization of FBS approach. The study concluded that the utilization of FBS approach by smallholder cocoa farmers contributes substantially to the profitability of cocoa business. It is, therefore, recommended that effective general extension services should be extended to the study area to intensify the use of FBS introduced innovative skills by farmers for cocoa production.