Evaluation of the Factors Affecting Technology Adoption Among Cassava Farmers in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The factors affecting the technology adoption among cassava farmers in Ika North Local government Delta, State was examined. Specifically, the farmer’s socio-economic characteristics, their sources of information on cassava production, the constraints to the adoption of innovations and the constraints to cassava production were examined. A two stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 120 farmers while questionnaire and interview schedule was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and regression were used in data analysis. The farmers were matured (mean age=40 years), mostly male (62.5%), married (70.8%), educated (90.0%) with a mean household size 8 members and cultivated a mean of 1.3 hectares with a farming experience of 12 years. The farmers belonged to farmer’s associations (33.3%) and made an annual income of ₦215,404.17. The leading technologies adopted by the farmers were planting depth of 10-15cm (89.2%), intercropping with melon (88.4%), early planting between April-June (85.0%) and first weeding (manual weeding) (84.1%) The major serious constraints to the adoption of innovation among the farmers were attributes of the innovation (mean=3.68), poor extension contact (mean=3.62) while the leading serious constraints to cassava production were price fluctuation (mean=3.68) and poor extension contact (mean=3.62). Education (r=1.115; P<0.05), cooperative membership (r=1.116;p<0.05), income (r=1.211; p<0.05) and extension contact (r=1.220; P<0.05) had significant relationship with the adoption of innovation. It concluded that the adoption of innovation among the cassava farmers is constrained by several factors that are capable of affecting cassava production. Therefore, extension service providers should enhance their contact with the farmers