Analysis Of Effectiveness Of Transfer And Utilization Of Odourless Cassava Fufu Flour Processing Technology Among Rural Women In South - East, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

 The study investigated the effectiveness of transfer and utilization of odourless cassava fufu flour processing technology among rural women in South–Eastern,Nigeria A purposive and multistage random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 480 respondents across the three selected State in South East, Nigeria. Data were collected through interview schedule/questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to realized and test data. Respondents had a mean age of 40 years in South East ,  Results of  the mean (  2.87) of the respondents indicated that the transfer agents were not very effective in transferring the technology. On effectiveness of utilization, a pooled mean of (  3.0) indicated an effective utilization. On factors influencing transfer a very high proportion indicated (82.5%, 85% and 85%), that cost of technology, cosmopolitness and timely provision of the module severely influenced transfer across the States, while result on factors influencing utilization show that benefits (  4.40) smell (  3.45) acceptability (  4.30) affordability (  4.40) and type of demonstration (  4.30) influenced the utilization of the technology to a great extent. Results from test of hypothesis one revealed a significant influence between methods used in transfer and utilization of odourless cassava fufu flour in South East (X² 67.20, P < 0.05   ). Hence the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative accepted at 5% level of probability. Tobit regression result on (age, education, farm size, and out-put) influenced   utilization of the odourless cassava fufu  flour processing technology in South East at ( X² 66.06, P < 0.05)of probability. The simple linear regression estimate  model also indicated a significant relationship between farmers utilization and contact with transfer agencies at ( R²  0718, P < 0.05  ) level of probability. Result of Tobit regression  also indicated a positive and significant influence between effective transfer and the technological characteristics of the odourless cassava fufu  flour processing technology in South East at  (R² 0.787 ,  P < 0.05  ) levels of probability. Tobit regression estimate result on showed that (simplicity and time saving at ( 052.76, P < 0.05 ) level of probability influenced the effectiveness of odourless cassava fufu flour processing technology transfer in South East, Nigeria. Result from Tobit regression estimate on hypothesis six revealed that the economic characteristics influenced utilization of odourless cassava fufu flour at ( 0.507, P < 0.05) level of probability. The result of ANOVA showed a  no  significant difference in the utilization of odourless cassava fufu flour processing technology transferred based on the significant value (F- value 3.89, P < 0.05) across South East ,Nigeria. The study recommended more visitations between the transfer agencies and the respondents also by timely provision of technology module and regular training to the utilizers of the technology across the South Eastern Nigeria in other to enhance the rate of utilization of the technology across the States studied.