Adoption of Oil Palm Production Technologies in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.

*ISIBOR, A.C. AND **UGWUMBA, C.O.A.

*Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Anambra State University, Anambra State, Nigeria.

**Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

E-mail: chinweann@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study specifically examined level of adoption, determinants and constraints to the adoption of palm production technologies by palm farmers in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were respectively used to select five communities from the local government area and 50 oil palm farmers from the five selected communities for the study. Copies of structured interviewed instrument were administered to the respondents for data collection. Descriptive statistics and logistics regression were used in analyzing the data. Highest level of adoption (76%) of the oil palm production technologies was achieved with ring weeding technology, while use of fertilizer scored 62% to become the least adopted production technology. Level of adoption was statistically, significant and positively determined by membership of social organization, farm size, educational level and annual farm income. The greatest constraints to level of adoption of oil palm production technologies were high cost of the technologies and lack of finance. The provision of subsides and financial supports, as best suggested solutions to the problems faced by the farmers, would enable purchase of the technologies and improve their levels of adoption.