3. Result
3.1. Cocoa Farming, an Essential Activity
The information gathered in Boguedia from the resource persons from the focus group and the questionnaire was analyzed. To achieve this, we asked the cocoa farming survey: "What do you know about cocoa farming in Côte d'Ivoire"? Here are some of the answers:
Cocoa farming is linked to slave trade or trade. So it's an activity that existed before the colonial period. However, it has been flourishing with oil palm cultivation, during the colonial period to support Europe's sluggish economy, because of world wars. Today, cocoa farming is the country's main source of wealth (A. L, 38 years old, student; G. S, 29 years old, studient).
Cocoa cultivation started here at home years ago. At first it was difficult, because you had to work with your hand, with a machete and an ax. Today, things have changed, because there are chainsaws to cut down the trees and clean the plot. Cocoa is a plant from here. See, the Europeans do not grow cocoa (A. G, 69 years old, planter, L. M, 73 years old, planter).
These answers are summarized in the following table:
Out of 100 respondents, about 15 farmers (15%) know the history of cocoa farming in Côte d'Ivoire. These respondents have a level of education that oscillates between secondary and higher education. On the other hand, 85 people, the majority (85%), who do not know this activity, are illiterate and have dropped out of school very early. Therefore, this segment of the population can not understand the message conveyed in books, sources of knowledge. If cocoa farming has a history, what is it for? To this question, the respondents replied:
With cocoa growing, our country has grown. Through this activity, we have invested on many levels. The children are in school. They are fed. When they get sick, they are taken to the clinic or hospital for care. But there is more. The sums of money we earn enable us to build modern houses, more beautiful than the huts of yesterday. Cocoa farming is emerging as the first crop in this region. Many people are involved in this activity (A. D, 46 years old, planter, P. F, 39 years old, planter).
The answers are summarized in the following table:
The data reveal that 100% of respondents confirm the importance of cocoa farming. For the farmers, the activity is a source of wealth because it provides substantial income to the population. The sums of money intervene in the satisfaction of social needs (food, housing, health, schooling). Despite this importance, agricultural innovations are experiencing blockages. Why are peasants reluctant?
3.2. Reluctance to Innovations
We asked the people about the causes of blockages related to agricultural innovations. Here are some of the answers:
There are many problems related to innovations. The persons designated for training and supervision are not always present. We are obliged to pay the pods and certain products at exorbitant prices. In the end, our revenues are swallowed up in expenses. Some framers sell the products to us. Others choose to favor peasants, whom they know or who are close relatives (D. P, 37 years old, planter, K. L, 49 years old, planter).
The products (insecticides) used to spray the fields are danderal. Precautions must be taken to do this. Those who do not have enough money to protect themselves are exposed to diseases (skin problems, eye problems, coughs...). In the long nter). The products (insecticides) used to spray the fields are danderal. Precautions must be taken to do this. Those who do not have enough money to protect themselves are exposed to diseases (skin problems, eye problems, coughs...). In the long run, they can expose themselves to emerging diseases (cancer). Also, the misuse of insecticides can negatively affect the soil. So there is little awareness. Agricultural policy (innovations) is developed without us. We are not involved. This marginalization is a real obstacle (E. L, 58 years old, planter; R. T, 43 years old, planter).
Communication does not always happen, because there are many illiterate people. The trainers and supervisors at this level encounter difficulties in getting the message across. We therefore understand that there are difficulties related to awareness. But we do what we can (H. B, 30 years old, framer).
The answers are summarized in this table:
Out of 100 respondents, 75 people report that there are economic and social problems when 25 farmers reveal environmental problems. The presence of difficulties related to agricultural innovations is a reality, because 100% of respondents support this thesis. In order to circumvent the situation, an analysis of the situation is necessary.
3.3. Deconstruction of Agricultural Policy
To remedy the situation, we interviewed the respondents, here are their answers:
We must be involved in everything, what is taken as decisions. We never come to ask ourselves the problems we encounter on a daily basis. Do we have the means to pay for the products that are available to us? The products are expensive, the material is also expensive. With our poverty situation, can we buy them. Should we also see if the products used in plantations are not dangerous? (K. P, 56 years old, planter; D. K, 63 years old, planter).
The comments of the respondents are summarized in the following table:
The majority of the surveyed 69% think, that they must be associated with the decisions concerning them. Also, impact studies must be undertaken to assess the scope of modernization and productivity strategies. 31 people (31%) believe that relations between them, supervisory agents and cooperatives are regularly conflicting. They also want good awareness to get them to take ownership of agricultural innovations. The results of the field which are articulated around three major axes were analyzed.
"to be continued in the next part"