Assessment of communication channels in cocoa farming: Utilization, impact and constraints, in Ekiti West Local Government Area

The study was established on primary data obtained from a multistage random sample of 185 Cocoa farmers selected from 6 political wards. Interview schedules and semi-structured questionnaire were used to elicit data from the respondents which was then analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The Mean age of farmers was found to be 36years and more than half of the respondents (50.81%) were married. Male Cocoa farmers were predominant at 61.19%. Results further showed that 89.5% of respondents were literate and the mean scores recorded for farming experience and household size were 4years and 6 persons respectively. The most accessible and frequently utilized channel was Mobile phones with a mean score of 2.82. Interpersonal channels like Group discussions (96.76%), Extension agent (96.22%) and On-farm demonstration (93.51%) were however the most widely preferred communication channels in the study area but not readily accessible. With regard to perceived effects of channels utilization on farming practices, respondents stated that Cocoa plantation management systems have been enhanced significantly with mean score of 3.99. The major constraint that affected communication channels utilization was identified to be inadequate enabling infrastructure (22.04%). The highest ranking with regard to the measures for enhancing communication channels utilization was provision of access roads, electricity and other enabling infrastructure (=3.94). The Chi-square (χ2) test of independent analysis showed that Chi-square (χ2) values of Education (68.287), Gender (49.250), Farm size (40.004) and Farming experience (57.258) had significant relationship with frequency of communication channel’s utilization with χ2 at P <0 .05. These findings underscore the need for the provision of low cost micro credit facilities and provision of enabling infrastructure to ensure effective use of interpersonal and mass media channels, community resource centers establishment, employment and training of extension agents for frequent accessibility to Cocoa farmers Suggested measures include the expansion of digital infrastructure, capacity-building programs to improve technological proficiency among farmers, and policy reforms aimed at integrating modern communication tools into the agricultural extension framework.