The study investigated extension activities in natural rubber production in South West Zone of Nigeria. Fifty rubber
farmers randomly selected from five communities in the rubber belt sub-zone were sampled. A structured interview
schedule was used in collecting data from the respondents.Statistical analysis was accomplished by means of
frequency distribution, percentages and mean scores. Findings indicated that 86 percent of the respondents attended
at least primary school, 42 percent were primarily engaged in farming and 46 percent used family/hired labour in
carrying out various rubber production activities. The mean age of the respondents was 47 years, while the mean
farm size was 2.32 hectares. Most of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance and financed their
farming activities from personal savings. Furthermore, the average number of extension visits to the farmers per year
was approximately 1, however as high as 48 per cent of the farmers had never been visited by any extension agent.
Very few farmers adopted the use of improved tapping techniques, recommended tapping time and use of agrochemicals,
while the rest of the improved rubber production technologies were not adopted at all. The major
constraints associated with rubber production in the area include low price for rubber, lack of adequate market for
primary produce (latex and rubber lump), inadequate capital and lack of contact with extension agents and other
important sources of information, among others. Farmers’ major suggestions to problems encountered in rubber
production in the area include provision of basic infrastructural amenities, provision of extension services and
provision of adequate market for rubber produce. The study concluded that the organization of training and
enlightenment programmes, as well as, provision of agro inputs through the agricultural extension services of the
Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria and the Tree Crop Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources are
necessary to enable farmers benefit from the available improved rubber production technologies.