Effect of climate change on cocoa yield: a case of Cocoa Research Institute (CRIN) farm, Oluyole local government Ibadan Oyo state.

Abstract

This Research work focused on the effect of climate change on cocoa yield in Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) farm, Ibadan. For sustainable cocoa production, weather which is an uncontrollable variable is an important factor whose effect on cocoa is difficult to quantify in field environment. The effect of two major weather parameters rainfall and temperature were evaluated on cocoa yield over ten years. The study revealed that there is a weak inverse correlation in rainfall (0.0073), i.e. increase in rainfall resulting in decrease in yield. While positive weak correlation (0.2196) was established for temperature on yield. This study also revealed a strong positive correlation between yields/pods and temperature. This study showed that a combination of optimal temperature (29 0 c) and minimal rainfall (900 to 1000mm) will give a better yield and improve production and the economy of both Cocoa farmers and Nigeria at large.