ANALYSIS OF THE ADOPTION OF COCOA PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES BY COCOA FARMERS IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out in Cross River State to analyse the adoption of cocoa production technology by cocoa farmers. Specifically, the study identified the cocoa production technologies in the study area, ascertain the extent of adoption of the technologies and determine the constraints to adoption of the technologies. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure in sampling 324 respondents. Data for the study were generated using questionnaire and analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and ranking. Results showed that a variety of cocoa technologies were available in the study area such as, fermentation, sun-drying etc. results on the extent of adoption showed that some technologies like fermentation were highly adopted while the use of organic manure was not highly adopted. Results of the constraints to the adoption of the technologies showed that the greatest constraints were lack of farm credit with mean of 3.93 and ranking first. The study therefore recommended that cocoa farmers in Cross River State should be supplied with farm inputs at subsidized rate.