ASSESSMENT OF YOUTHS’ PARTICIPATION IN COCOA PRODUCTION IN UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL ZONE, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract The study assessed youths’ participation in cocoa production in Umuahia Agricultural Zone, Abia State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of respondents in the study area; identified cocoa production activities that the respondents participate in; determined the level of participation of the respondents in cocoa production; assessed respondents’ perception of the cocoa production activities; and ascertained those constraints that influence respondents’ level of participation in cocoa production in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of 80 respondents for the study. Data for this study were obtained from primary sources. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, multiple regression models, and correlation coefficients. Results showed that the respondents were young (mean= 43 years), married, educated (mean=8 years), and moderately experienced (mean = 8 years), with mean household size and farm size of 6 persons and 1.5 hectares respectively. Their involvement in cocoa production activities like gathering pods (mean=3.96), land clearing (mean=3.54), planting (mean=3.96), weeding (mean=3.43), fertilizing (mean=3.63), spraying (mean=3.33), harvesting (3.43), processing (3.81), and marketing (3.75) was high. Although they encountered challenges like inadequate extension services (mean=3.33), inadequate trading (mean=3.68), lack of improved technologies (mean=3.96), and lack of insurance policy (mean=3.43), they perceived cocoa production as being lucrative with the potential of enhancing their income and welfare status. Marital status (P