Socioeconomic Factors Influencing the Adoption of Leafy Vegetable Technologies for Increased Vegetable Production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study investigated the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of leafy vegetable technologies for increased vegetable production in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Interview schedule was used to obtain information from 181 leafy vegetable farmers selected from 9 Local Government Areas using the multi-stage sampling procedure. The analysis was carried out with the use of frequencies, percentage, mean scores, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis. Analysis showed that the majority were female (51.4%), with age mean of 41 years, and 76.8% being married. Notably, 46.5% and 51.9% had tertiary and secondary education, respectively. Wild spinach-ukazi (92.8%) and water leaf (91.2%) were predominant crops. Organic fertilizer (compost) exhibited higher adoption (mean score = 3.95) than inorganic fertilizer (NPK) (Mean score = 3.22). Community-based sources of information such as fellow farmers and community leaders were prevalent. Regression analysis identified age, household size, and educational level as factors that influence technology adoption. The study concluded that socio-economic factors (age, household size and education) affect technology adoption. It was recommended that more channels of sources of information should be created not just community and government agencies but to encompass media in order to enlighten leafy vegetable technologies in the study area.