Farmer-related factors influencing ·the adoption of improved cassava varieties in Ahiazu-Mbaise L.G.A. Imo State

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out on the farmer-related factors influencing the adoption of improved cassava varieties in Ahiazu-Mbaise L.G.A of Imo State. Specifically, the study investigated the factors limiting the interest of farmers to the use of recommended varieties, factors limiting the farmers ability to try innovations on a small scale and factors limiting their final decision to adopt improved cassava varieties. A random sampling was used to obtain the sample size of 80. Questionnaires were used in data collection. Percentages and the five point Likert type scale are statistical tools employed. Results revealed that insufficient information, high cost· of innovation, farmers inaccessibility to land, lack of credit facilities and negative attitude of extension workers towards farmers as factors limiting farmers interest to the use of relevant technologies. On the other hand, the fear of risk, incompatibility with farmers practice, complexity of the innovation, unavailability of planting materials, inadequate understanding of improved practices, relative advantage and poor development of farming communities as factors limiting small scale trial and final decision to adopt.