Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol 2, No.1, 2012 54 Factors Influencing Fertilizer Use Intensity among Small Holder Crop Farmers in Abak Agricultural Zone in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Sunday Brownson Akpan 1 * Edet Joshua Udoh 2 Veronica Sebastian Nkanta 2 1. Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, P.M. B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State Nigeria. 2 Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. * E-mail of the corresponding author: sundayakpan10@yahoo.com Abstract This study analyzes factors that influenced fertilizer use intensity among arable crop farmers in Abak agricultural zone in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. Primary data were obtained from 150 arable crop farmers in the zone. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze data collected. The result reveals that majority of farmers were getting old and there is low social capital accumulation among arable crop farmers. Also, age, gender, household size, farm size, perceived price of fertilizer, value of farm output, extension agent visit, number of goats and sheep own by farmers, and decision to own poultry by farmers as well as the distance to fertilizer selling point are significant factors affecting fertilizer use intensity among arable crop farmers in Abak agricultural zone in Akwa Ibom state. The study recommends that Akwa Ibom state government should further subsidize the price of fertilizer to make fertilizer more affordable to small holder farmers. In addition, arable crop farming households in the state should be sensitized on the current method of family planning as this would help to reduce non-farm cost and help increase fertilizer procurement. Furthermore, the extension unit of the state ministry of Agriculture should be strengthened to educate arable crop farmers more on fertilizer usage. Keywords: Fertilizer, Crop, arable, farmer, production, Akwa Ibom 1. Introduction Agricultural sector in Sub Saharan Africa has continued to be an essential instrument for sustainable development, rural poverty reduction and a reliable source of self food sufficiency for the region (World Bank, 2008 and Olwande et al., 2009). However, agricultural productivity in the region has continued to decline over the last decades and poverty levels have increase (Olwande et al., 2009). Currently, agricultural productivity growth in Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind that of other regions in the world, and is well below that required to achieve food security and poverty goals. Many farmers in the region are facing