DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED BEEKEEPING TECHNOLOGY AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED BEEKEEPING TECHNOLOGY AMONG SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study determined the adoption level of improved beekeeping technology among small-scale farmers in Imo state, Nigeria. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling procedure. A structured Questionnaire was randomly administered to one hundred and twenty respondents that were selected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, mean count, and the Tobit regression model. The result showed that 50.0% of honeybee small-scale farmers in Imo state were ages 41 and above. The result also revealed that the majority of the farmers were aware of improved beehive technology and the level of adoption of the two technologies was high. The respondents preferred to keep frame hive technology because of the high-quality output of honey, profitability, ease of management, and less expensive. The major sources of information to the farmers were the extension agents and their fellow farmers, while lack of finance was the major problem affecting the level of adoption. The study concluded that the major determinants of the adoption of improved beekeeping technology were age, level of education, farming experience, level of income, and extension contacts. This means that honey bee farmers’ socio-economic characteristics have a lot of bearing on their ability to adopt the two technologies. The study, therefore, recommended that more awareness be created in the study area about the technology through the extension agents and that the honey bee farmers be given financial assistance by the government and NGOs to enhance honey output production.