ABSTRACT

The study assessed the factors influencing the level of adoption of improved cassava technologies among farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the cassava farmers; determine the level of awareness of improved cassava production technologies by the cassava farmers, determine the major sources of information on improved cassava production technologies; ascertain the reasons for growing improved varieties among the cassava farmers; determine the level of adoption of improved cassava technologies; identify the factors affecting the adoption of improved cassava technologies among the cassava farmers; and ascertain the constraints limiting the adoption of improved cassava technologies among cassava famers in the study area. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed and data were collected from 120 cassava farmers using structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean score and inferential statistics involving the use of multiple regression analysis. The findings of the study revealed that the improved cassava technologies with the foremost level of awareness were supplying! replacement (96.7%), weeding at least twice a year (95.0%), and fertilizer application (92.5%).The foremost sources of information on improved cassava production technologies to the cassava farmers were fellow cassava farmers (X = 3.37), and NRCRI Umudike (X = 3.10). The major reasons for adoption of improved cassava production technologies by the farmers were high yield (X = 3.80), maturity (X = 3.68), and resistance to diseases (X = 3.38). The improved cassava production technologies mostly adopted by the farmers were weeding at least three times a year (X= 3.89), cultivation of improved cassava varieties (X = 3.81), supplying/replacement (X 3.59), and fertilizer application (X = 3.46). The significant factors affecting the adoption of improved cassava production technologies were extension visit and affordability at 1% significant level; education, age, membership to co-operative, and years of experience at 5% significant level. The foremost constraints limiting the adoption of improved cassava production technologies were high cost agro-chemicals (X = 3.93), high cost of fertilizer (X = 3.80) and high cost of improved cassava varieties cuttings (X = 3.79). The awareness of improved cassava production technologies has significant positive influence on the adoption of the technologies by the farmers at 1% significant. Hence, education, age, membership to co-operative society, years of experience, extension visit, and affordability were the factors affecting the adoption of improved cassava production technologies in Abia state. The study therefore recommended for the enhancement of the efficiency of the extension service; provision of loans and credit facilities to rural farmers; subsidizing of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals so as to enhance their affordability by rural farmers, supplying farmers with improved planting materials at subsidized rate and providing more training to the enlightened contact farmers.