Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation by Small-Scale Oil Palm Farmers in Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the socioeconomic factors affecting adoption of innovation by small–scale oil palm farmers in Nsukka agricultural zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of validated and structured questionnaire administered to 180 randomly selected small-scale oil palm farmers based on their socioeconomic characteristics, adoption of improved technology in oil-palm production and constraints to adoption of improved technologies in oil-palm production. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequency tables, mean scores and ordinary least square (OLS) regression technique. The result showed that the farmers were mostly low income earners, aged, male dominated and with farm holdings less than one hectare. There were high adoption rates of organic fertilizer, weed control by cover crops and harvesting with matchet. On the other hand, adoption of inorganic fertilizer, chemical pest, weed control and use of hybrid oil palm seedlings were low. Constraints to adoption included; poor extension contact, poor access to land, scarcity of farm inputs and unawareness of technologies with mean values of 2.89, 2.74, 2.59 and 2.55 respectively. Similarly, lack of planting materials and access to fund with mean values of 2.19 and 2.43 respectively were not constraints to adoption of improved technologies. The study thus recommended for attention to be paid towards educating the local people on the importance of using improved or hybrid seedlings and making lands available to farmers.