Agronomic, management and socio-economic factors that affect the productive yield of cocoa cultivation. A case study in Colombia.

Abstract

Cocoa cultivation is of great importance for the agricultural economy of the Department of Santander and for Colombia, since in recent years its implementation has been promoted as a solution to illicit crops. Therefore, it is important to know what factors could influence the low productive yields of cocoa cultivation in this region. Using a logit model, it was estimated that variables affect the probability of a farm having yields above the regional average of 490 kg.ha^-1. The results showed that the greater the producer’s experience, the greater the access to credit, and the higher the altitude above 800 meters above sea level, the greater the probability that the farm will have yields above 490 kg.ha^-1. On the other hand, it was determined that belonging to an association, increasing the size of the farm and increasing the frequency of phytosanitary controls reduces the probability that the farm will present better yields. These results provide public and private institutions involved in these communities with important tools to consider these variables in their technological packages and have a greater impact on crop yields and thus on producers’ quality of life.