Data Sheet 1_Renewable energy technology adoption among arable crop farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria: attitudes, constraints and potential food-system implications.pdf

Introduction

Renewable energy technologies (RETs) can support agricultural energy needs, yet their uptake among smallholder farmers remains uneven. This study examined attitudes, adoption stages, socioeconomic correlates, information access and perceived constraints relating to RETs among arable crop farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Methods

A multistage sampling procedure selected 180 farmers from four Local Government Areas. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire/interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, fractional-logit regression and binary-logistic sensitivity analysis.

Results

After reverse-coding negatively worded items, the composite attitude score was 3.05 (SD = 0.45), while overall adoption remained low (grand mean = 1.11; adoption index = 0.22). Attitude was not significantly related to adoption extent (r = 0.018, p = 0.806), and socioeconomic characteristics were not jointly associated with the fractional adoption index (Wald χ(12)2 = 13.86, p = 0.310). In the sensitivity analysis, 49 farmers (27.2%) had reached the final adoption stage for at least one RET, and the binary-logistic model was significant overall (likelihood-ratio χ(5)2 = 16.99, p = 0.0045). Farm size was positively associated with actual adoption, whereas years of education and farm income showed negative associations requiring cautious interpretation. High installation cost and limited access to credit were the leading constraints.

Discussion

RET adoption remained limited despite approximately neutral to slightly favourable attitudes. Since food-security outcomes were not directly measured, the findings indicate potential food-system implications rather than demonstrated effects on food security. Targeted financing, extension support and technical assistance may help address the identified adoption barriers.