Adoption Intensity and Inequality among Cocoa Farmers in Ekiti and Ondo States, Nigeria

Over several decades, improved cocoa technologies have been developed and disseminated in Nigeria. These technologies can boost yield, promote food security and improve the income of farmers. Unfortunately, cocoa yield has been on persistent decline. This study therefore examined the intensity and inequalities associated with the adoption of cocoa technologies among farmers in two major producing States (Ondo and Ekiti States) in Nigeria. The study addressed this using cross-sectional survey data from 391 cocoa farmers, analyzed using multiple regression and gini coefficient. The results revealed regular weeding (83.8%), shade cover for seedlings (81.3%), improved seedlings (80.05%), and insecticides/fungicides (85.68%) were the most adopted technologies. Many farmers fall under the moderate adoption intensity category, with an adoption intensity index of 0.73, implying that 73% of the technologies were adopted by the farmers. The cocoa technologies were widely practiced by farmers, with a Gini coefficient of 0.2 which reflects a low inequality in adoption among the farmers. The key drivers of farmers' adoption intensity were extension agents (beta = 0.262), awareness of technologies (beta = 0.253), age (beta = 0.132) and farming experience (beta = 0.125). The study recommends sustained promotion of technology awareness programmes and more regular extension visits to farmers.