ANALYSIS OF ADOPTION OF NEW COTTON VARIETIES AMONG FARMERS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study focused on the analysis of socio-economic factors that influence the adoption of improved cotton varieties among farmers in Osun Sate. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 100 cotton farmers as respondents. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and Logit regression model. Results showed that majority of the respondents were aware of the improved cotton varieties, while eighty five percent of the respondents got their information from extension agents. The results of the logit regression analysis showed that age, farming experience, level of education, farm size, off farm income and household size were the factors that influence the adoption of improved cotton varieties. The major constraints identified were high cost of fertilizer and cost of labour, lack of capital, lack of contact with extension agents and lack of market for produce. It is recommended that cost of fertilizer should be subsidized and policies should target strengthening cotton farmers to have access to improved education and frequent extension service contact for aiding acceptance and dissemination of agricultural technology information which has the potential to increase the rate of adoption of improved cotton varieties.