Abstract

The study assessed the socio-cultural factors influencing kola nut production in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of kola nut farmers, examined the level of kola nut production, determined the extent to which socio-cultural factors influence production, and identified the constraints to production. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. The results showed that most respondents were male (81.7%), above 60 years (50.8%), and married (80.3%), with secondary education (28.3%) as the highest level attained by most. Respondents had an average farm size of 1.8 hectares and produced 0.4 metric tons of kola nut annually. Findings further revealed that socio-cultural factors strongly influenced kola nut production. Items with high perceived influence included kola nut’s role in traditional ceremonies (x? = 4.18, SD = 0.66), hospitality and friendship (x? = 4.22, SD = 0.58), medicinal benefits (x? = 4.10, SD = 0.60), prayer for longevity (x? = 3.95, SD = 0.71), and its cultural symbolism in marriage and unity. In terms of production constraints, the most severe were lack of access to credit (x? = 3.41, SD = 0.63), unfavourable weather (x? = 3.37, SD = 0.62), inadequate knowledge of improved practices (x? = 3.34, SD = 0.74), poor information on preservation strategies (x? = 3.23, SD = 0.69), and high cost of pesticides (x? = 3.13, SD = 0.78). The OLS regression analysis showed that income generation (? = 0.916, p = 0.011), medicinal value (? = 0.055, p = 0.008), cultural relevance (? = 0.085, p = 0.000), and spiritual significance (? = 0.081, p = 0.011) were significant predictors of kola nut production. The study concludes that kola nut production is deeply socio-culturally rooted but constrained by systemic, financial, and environmental challenges. It recommends improved access to extension services, farm inputs, and the integration of cultural heritage into development strategies to enhance sustainable kola nut production.

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