© Kamla-Raj 2007 J. Hum. Ecol., 22(3): 211-214 (2007) Assessment of Benefits Derived by Cocoa Farmers from Cocoa Development Unit Activities of Oyo State M. O. Adetunji, O. A. Olaniyi And M. O. Raufu Department of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria E-mail: Akinlolu_olaniyi@yahoo.com, dayomuyiwa@yahoo.com KEYWORDS Cocoa. Benefits. Development. Economic Gain ABSTRACT The study was carried out to assess the benefits derived by Cocoa farmers from Cocoa Development Unit (CDU) of Oyo state. Structured and validated interview schedule was used to collect relevant information from Sixty Cocoa farmers randomly selected from four major cocoa producing areas. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and Pearson Correlation was used as inferential statistical tool. Evidence from the data analyzed, the respondents had benefited from CDU activities ranging from skill improvement in cocoa production and economic gains. Empirically, age (r = -0.269), martial status (r = -0.298) shows negative and significant relationship with benefits from CDU activities while sex (r = - 0.018) shows negative but non significant relationship. Education (r = 0.331) had positive and significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities and farming experience (r = 0.022) shows positive but non significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities. Based on the findings of the study, it is therefore recommended that training should be organized for Cocoa farmers in the state on various cocoa processing methods in order to have high quality grade of cocoa for export. INTRODUCTION Agriculture is an important sector in the economy of Nigeria. An important feature of Nigerian agricultural economy is the production of food crops as well as cash crops. The produc- tion of cash crops such as Cocoa, Coffee, Tea, Rubber etc. are mainly for exportation. Post independent years have witnesses a boom in Cocoa production, sales and exports. From years past, agriculture has served domestic and industrial needs (CRIN, 2000). Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) was introduced to Nigeria from the American continent in 1874 and was first planted in Cross river State but commercial planting began when the crop was introduced into Western Nigeria between 1889 and 1890 ( Are et al., 1973). Cocoa cultivation gained prominence rapidly in Nigeria in 1965, then Nigeria became the second largest producer of Cocoa in the world. Cocoa production in Nigeria is known to perform the following economic roles, which include the following. Provision of raw materials for cocoa industries, Provision of revenue for the government, it contributes to the aggregate export earnings and source of income to farmers who engaged in Cocoa production. Also, cocoa farming , processing and marketing provided employment for about 40% of the inhabitants in cocoa producing zones of Nigeria.(Oladosu and Sanusi, 2004). In 1994, Cocoa production statistics showed that Nigeria was sixth largest Cocoa producer with 135,000 tonnes. The decline in Cocoa production was attributed to the discovery and exploitation of petroleum. Nigeria has over emphasized the exploitation of crude oil as a main source of foreign exchange earnings. The country thus neglected cocoa, a versatile, renewable, and sustainable avenue for generating foreign exchange and employment (Akinwumi, 1995). Among other factors responsible for the declining production of cocoa in Nigeria is the vacuum created by the abolition of the Nigerian cocoa marketing board, old age of the farmers, massive migration from rural areas, scarcity and high cost of agricultural labour, incidence of pests and diseases, lack of credit facilities to cocoa farmers and indiscriminate bush burning that affect cocoa plantation (CDU, 2003; CRIN, 2003). In an attempt to boost cocoa production, Oyo state Government established Cocoa Develop- ment Unit (CDU) which was charged with the responsibility of general development and improvement of Cocoa as an economic crop in the state. Through the established Cocoa Development Unit, various programmes was