Adoption of improved oil palm production and processing technologies in Arochukwu local government area of Abia state, Nigeria

The study determined the extent of adoption of improved oil palm production and processing technologies in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Fifty oil palm farmers randomly selected from five communities were sampled. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection, while percentages and mean scores were used for presenting the data. The findings show that four technologies namely, use of mechanized mills for processing oil palm fruits, planting of leguminous cover crops in palm plantations, use of insecticides and use of herbicides had very low adoption levels among the farmers. The most preferred and most important information source on improved oil palm technologies used by the farmers was the extension agents. However the greatest constraint to adoption of improved oil palm technologies was lack of finance. This suggests the need for the provision of subsidies and financial support to farmers to enable them pay for the necessary farm inputs. Keywords: Oil palm, Improved technologies, Information sources, NigeriaAgro-Science Vol. 5 (1) 2006: pp. 26-3