Assessment of Agricultural Extension Services Utilization among Cocoa Farmers in Ikom Agricultural Zone, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study assessed the utilisation of agricultural extension services among cocoa farmers in the Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select respondents, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that most cocoa farmers (44%) were aged 41–50 years, predominantly male (88%), and married (70%), with 87% having some level of formal education. Most respondents (65%) cultivated between 1–5 hectares of farmland, while 81% were members of cooperative societies, which facilitated information sharing and collective access to extension services. The major extension services available included the dissemination of improved planting materials, pest and disease management support, training on production techniques, and climate-smart agricultural practices, all of which were perceived to significantly enhance productivity. Farmers strongly agreed that extension services improved their knowledge of modern production techniques (mean = 3.5) and contributed to yield increases (mean = 3.3). However, constraints to utilisation included political and institutional instability, poor funding, low literacy levels, high costs, and an inadequate number of extension agents. The study concludes that extension services are vital for improving cocoa production, but their effectiveness depends on overcoming the identified constraints.