Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Kola nut production plays a vital role in Nigeria’s agricultural economy, serving as both a source of income for rural farmers and a significant export commodity. Despite its importance, production faces challenges arising from socio-economic factors and climate variability. The study examined the socio-economic determinants of kola nut production in Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 90 respondents, and data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire.
Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for analysis. The results showed that males constituted 65.5% of respondents, with a mean age of 57.7 years; 44.5% had engaged in kola nut production for 16–20 years. About 54.4% had access to credit, while 94.4% had access to farmland an average of 7.7 acres. The majority (86.7%) reported that climate change had reduced profitability, while 66.7% linked it to increased
pest and disease incidence. Regression analysis revealed that age (β = –2.185, p < 0.01), farming experience (β = 9.248, p < 0.01), household size (β = –16.552, p < 0.01), farm size (β = 13.822, p < 0.01), labor (β = 0.003, p < 0.01), and selling price (β = 0.001, p < 0.05) significantly influenced production. The study concludes that kola nut production remains a viable agribusiness but is constrained by socio-economic and climatic factors, recommending government and stakeholder interventions through climate education, financial literacy, and irrigation adoption to enhance productivity. Moreover, policy measures focusing on farmers employing climate-smart agricultural practices are recommended.