Assessment of Land Suitability for Cocoa Plantation Using GIS Application Tools in Ini Lga, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Land suitability assessment is fundamental to sustainable agricultural development, particularly for perennial cash crops such as cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), which are highly sensitive to environmental conditions. This study assessed land suitability for cocoa plantation in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State using Geographic Information System (GIS) applications. Relevant biophysical parameters, including soil characteristics, slope, elevation, rainfall, temperature, and land use/land cover, were integrated within a GIS environment using multi-criteria evaluation techniques. The thematic layers were standardized and weighted based on established crop suitability requirements and land evaluation frameworks. The resulting suitability map classified the study area into highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable zones for cocoa cultivation. The findings reveal that while substantial portions of Ini LGA possess favorable ecological conditions for cocoa production, certain areas are constrained by factors such as poor drainage, steep slopes, and incompatible land use. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of GIS as a decision-support tool for land suitability assessment and provides spatially explicit information that can guide sustainable cocoa plantation development, land use planning, and agricultural policy formulation in Akwa Ibom State.

Assessment, Land, Suitability, Cocoa, Plantation, Gis, Application, Tools

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