FACTORS AFFECTING ADOPTION OF GREEN AGRICULTURE AMONG SMALLHOLDER COCOA FARMERS IN ILE-OLUJI/OKE-IGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO-STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study determined the factors affecting adoption of green agriculture among cocoa farmers in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government of Ondo State. Data for this study were generated from primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected with the aid of a well structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling techniques were adopted for this study in a multistage manner. Ten villages from the Local Government Areas (LGAs) were purposively selected to be able to capture farmers practicing green agriculture in the area. The second stage was the purposive selection of 12 farmers from each of the villages. Thus a total of 120 respondents were interviewed in the LGA. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, forms of green agriculture and constraints to adoption with the aid of percentages, mean, maximum and minimum values and tables. Probit regression analysis was used to identify the factors influencing the usage of green agriculture among small-holder farmers in the study area. The perceptions of green agriculture were measured by using Likert type scale. A five point Likert type scale is specified as follows; Strongly Agree (SA) 5 points, Agree (A) 4 points, Undecided (U) 3 points, Disagree (D) 2 points, and Strongly Disagree (SD) 1 point. The result showed that majority of the farmers were male, still in their active age and had access to extension services and had perception about green agriculture. Majority of the respondents (84.2%) were male and the mean age of the farmers was 50 years, with a modal year of 55-64. Most of the farming households were learned and the mean household size was six. They had access to extension services, own land through inheritance and had access to credit. The farmers were small scale farmers. Some of the respondents (46.7%) had less than four hectares of land, (39.2%) had between 21-30 years of farming experience, (29.9%). Level of education attained, land ownership pattern, gender and income were significant in determining the adoption of green agriculture by the farmers. Majority of farmers lacked good knowledge of green agriculture and had favourable perception towards the adoption of green agricultural. Constraints highlighted to adoption of green agriculture includes; application of animal manure was perceived to be bulky, system technically difficult to practice, the practice is costly, no awareness and inadequate funds. Therefore, small-holder cocoa farmers should be encouraged and motivated to be actively involved in the adoption of green agriculture in order to ensure sustainable production of cocoa in the study area.