Effects of access to livelihood capitals on adoption of European Union (EU) approved pesticides among cocoa producing households in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Cocoa-producing households’ access to livelihood capitals would help them to adopt EU approved pesticides successfully. However, no empirical studies have addressed these issues. This study therefore investigated the effects of access to livelihood capitals on adoption of EU approved pesticides among cocoa-producing households. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 cocoa-producing households for the study. The obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multivariate probit regression and double hurdle regression model. The majority of cocoa-producing households (92%) have access to natural capital, followed by physical capital (67.5%), social capital (62.5%), financial capital (58%), whereas only a few (50.8%) have access to human capital. Multivariate probit estimates showed that age (p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.05), farm size (p < 0.05), years of education (p < 0.01), farming experience (p < 0.01), household size (p < 0.01) and membership in cooperative society (p < 0.01) significantly influenced cocoa-producing households’ access to livelihood capitals. The majority of cocoa-producing households (81%) adopt approved pesticides. The first hurdle estimates showed that gender (p < 0.01), education (p < 0.05), membership in a cooperative society (p < 0.05) and access to some livelihood capitals such as human (p < 0.01), physical (p < 0.05) and financial (p < 0.01) capitals significantly influence the probability of adoption of EU approved pesticides. In the second hurdle, gender (p < 0.1), farm size (p < 0.01), household size (p < 0.01), membership in a cooperative society (p < 0.01)and access to some livelihood capitals such as human (p < 0.05), physical (p < 0.01) and social (p < 0.01) capitals are significant in determining the intensity of adopting EU approved pesticides. The study concluded that access to livelihood capitals has potentials of accelerating adoption of EU approved pesticides. Other factors include gender, education, farm size and membership in a cooperative society. Therefore, this study suggests that government policy on uptake of EU approved pesticides should pay more attention on cocoa-producing households’ access to all these factors. Most importantly, policy package to encourage access to livelihood capitals must be strongly advocated.

Effects of Market Incentives and Livelihood Dependence on Farmers’ Multi-Stage Pesticide Application Behavior—A Case Study of Four Provinces in China

“…For intensifying agricultural production, the impact of livelihood dependence on farmers’ behavioral choices is generally considered from the perspective of household income and consumption [ 41 , 42 ]. The importance of income will affect the factor input of farmers and their energy input and the higher the proportion of product income, the more farmers need to consider potential market risks, and generally arrange their factor inputs according to the corresponding market requirements [ 43 , 44 ]. However, farmers also have speculative preferences, which may be due to maximizing short-term returns and being willing to take risks that violate market institutional arrangements.…”

Social Capital Networks (Scns) Reducing the Poverty on Cocoa Producing Households: Evidence From Osun and Ondo States of Southwestern Nigeria

“…These statistics further revealed that poverty is serious in rural areas of Nigeria, where cocoa producing households reside. Alot of factors, for instance, recent EU pesticides regulations, have adversely affected the livelihood of cocoa producing households and subsequently, led to changes in their welfare condition (Adeyemo et al 2020;Kehinde and Tijani, 2021). Cocoa producing households have, in recent time, witnessed a continuing increase within the level of poverty and this situation is worrisome (Oseni and Adams, 2013;Lawal et al, 2015).…”

Access to trade credit and its impact on the use of European Union (EU) approved pesticides among smallholder cocoa farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria

“…The decline has particularly affected the socioeconomic development of the cocoa producing States. The decline in cocoa production is attributed to a myriad of problems such as the ageing of cocoa farmers and cocoa trees, depletion of soil fertility, high pest and disease infestation, poor maintenance of cocoa farms, and lack of credit access, among others ( Oluyole et al, 2013 ; Kehinde and Adeyemo, 2017 ; Kolawole et al, 2020 ; Kehinde and Tijani, 2021a ; Kehinde and Ogundeji, 2022a ). One of these issues, and a significant one for Ondo State's cocoa output, is the prevalence of cocoa pests and diseases ( Akinneye et al, 2018 ).…”

“…One of these issues, and a significant one for Ondo State's cocoa output, is the prevalence of cocoa pests and diseases ( Akinneye et al, 2018 ). The prevalence of pest and diseases attack has led to the loss in cocoa yield, the value of foreign exchange for cocoa beans, farmer's income, and government revenue ( Tijani, 2006 ; Bateman, 2008 ; Kehinde and Tijani, 2021a ). For instance, about 30-45% of cocoa production losses arise from the incidence of diseases and parasites ( Tijani, 2006 ; Kehinde and Tijani, 2021a ), which could be up to 80% in some exceptional places with a high infestation ( Bateman, 2008 ).…”

“…These contaminants make cocoa beans dangerous for human consumption, leading to many health problems in human beings. Numerous health issues such as reproductive failures, birth defects, immune system malfunction, Parkinson's disease, and cancers are associated with the consumption of contaminated cocoa beans, while at least 20,000 people die each year ( World Bank, 2006 ; Kehinde and Tijani, 2021a ). Pesticide consumption accounts for 20% of the 800,000 suicide deaths worldwide each year ( World Health Organization, 2019 ; Sarkar et al, 2021 ).…”