Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Cassava Production Technologies Among Farmers In Enugu State Of Nigeria

Abstract

The broad objective of this study was to isolate the determinants of improved cassava production Technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample
of 250 farmers from 10 local government Areas of Enugu State. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the field data The identified cassava production technologies at different stages of adoption by the respondents are use of improved cassava cuttings, use of herbicides/pesticides, Alternate row/crop geometry in a cassava /maize/yam intercrop, planting distance, use of fertilize, machinery, weeding interval, harvesting time, improved storage and processing and planting angle. The overall mean adoption score and index was 0.96 and 0.191 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, its inappropriateness, scarcity or non-availability of the extension agents in the study area. The results also showed that level of Education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income and extension visits were the major determinants of cassava production
technologies at 5% level of significance.

Keywords: Adoption, improved cassava production technologies

Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (1) 2006: pp. 37-44