(b) Physical conditions necessary for the production of Cocoa
(i) Require moderate rainfall between 125cm to 200cm, January to October.
(ii) Well - drained soil / undulating land
(iii) Rich loamy soil
(iv) Non-acidic soil
(v) High temperature of about 27° for growth and ripening
(vi) Low annual range of temperature (10°C)
(vii) Shade for the seedlings
(viii) A dry period between December and February for drying the beans.
Cotton
(i) Moderate rainfall between 60cm and 125cm
(ii) High temperature of about 27° C for growth, ripening and harvesting.
(iii) Rich clayey loamy soil
(iv) Well-drained soil.
(v) Dry sunny period for ripening of the bolls.
Rubber
(i) Moderate temperature of about 27°C
(ii) Heavy rainfall up to 250cm
(iii) Even distribution of rainfall
(iv) Deep and humus soil
(v) Abundance of sunshine.
Importance of cash crops to the economy of Nigeria
(i) Raw materials for industries.
(ii) Employment
(iii) Income to farmers
(iv) Revenue to government Foreign exchange earnings
(vi) Promote agricultural research
(vii) Infrastructural development
(viii) Market for farm inputs e.g, fertilizers, herbicides, tractors, pesticides etc.
(ix) Growth of towns.