Propensity of cowpea (vigna unguiculata) farmers to adopt neem in controlling pest in Delta state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the factors that influence the propensity of cowpea farmers to adopt neem in controlling pests in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample population of 125 cowpea farmers from ten randomly selected Local Government Areas of Delta State. The data were elicited from the respondents with the use of structured interview schedule and questionnaire, while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The recommended neem technologies at different stages of adoption process were neem seed oil/extract; neem leaves solution, neem seed powder, and neem kernel powder. The grand mean adoption score and adoption index were 0.70 and 0.140 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to lack of extension contact, scarcity of neem, and poor level of subscription to farmers’ groups. The level of education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income, household size, extension contact, membership of farmers’ groups, cost of technology were the major factors that influenced the propensity of cowpea farmers to adopt neem technologies in pest control at 0.05 level of significance. It was recommended that more extension agents be employed; progressive approaches to extension delivery be encouraged and propagation of neem plants be encouraged.