Modeling rainfall as a constraining factor for Cocoa yield in Ondo State

Abstract

Rainfall is undoubtedly a determining agro-meteorological factor in the cultivation and production of cocoa. This work has revealed that rainfall has a constraining ability on cocoa yield in the core cocoa production areas of Ondo state, Nigeria. It was also established that cocoa production is in its best in areas like: Idanre, Ondo, Akure, Ile-Oluji, Owo e.t.c, which have yields above 1000MT per annum and rainfall lesser than 51.30mm. Cocoa yield was also shown to be the inverse of annual rainfall level. This was evident as cocoa yield increased in the early and latter months of the year when the rains are yet to fully come, and suffered in the mid year at the heart of raining season. A model of rainfall as it affected cocoa yields was achieved in this work