Analysis of Technology Attributes Influencing Non - Adoption of Apiary Production Technologies: The Case IFAD Bee Farmers in Cross River State, Nigeria

Beekeeping as a technology package disseminated to target farmers in Nigeria seems to suffer setbacks ranging from negative perception of farmers about the technology to technical contents of the package. This study therefore analyzes the technology attributes that influence non adoption of apiary technology packages in Cross River State, Nigeria. Purposive and multistage random sampling techniques were used to select sixty (60) apiary farmers. Data for the study were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics such as; frequency counts, mean scores and percentages and inferential statistics (bivariate probit analysis). The socio-economic characteristics of the farmers indicate that majority (93.33%) of the farmers were males, with mean age of 38.50 years, mean farming experience of 11.5 years, mean annual farm income of N175, 500 (973.97USD) and mean number of 9 hives. The result also revealed that the farmers adopted apiary technology packages such as; setting of hive (X =3.6) and baiting of bee hives ( X=3.1) with mean adoption score of 2.5 and an adoption index of 32%. The result of bivariate probit regression estimates showed that coefficients for complexity of technology, adaptability of technology and technical competency influenced non adoption of apiary technologies by farmers in the study area. The study therefore recommends increase in number of extension contacts, cooperative formation and adequate campaign on beekeeping to facilitate adoption of apiary technologies in the study area.