Main Article Content
Effect and Constraints of Adoption of Recommended Cassava Production Practices by Farmers in Bwari And Kuje Area Council Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract
Farming practices have been poor in Nigeria compared to countries like Brazil, Thailand and Indonesia. Stakeholders in agriculture have made all effort in promoting the adoption of recommended cassava production practices (RCPPs). In spite of this, adoption of RCPPs remains low, resulting to poor farm productivity. Consequently, this study examined the effects of adoption of the recommended cassava production practices (RCPPs) on the yield and income benefit among farmers; as well as the constraints faced by farmers in adoption of the recommended practices. The study used a multi-stage sampling procedure to select 120 registered cassava farmers. Frequencies, percentages, means, and Z – test were employed for data analyses. Result of the Z-test revealed that the mean yield of cassava before and after adoption was 3,832t/ha and 6,387 t/ha respectively; with a differential of 67%. The mean income of farmers before and after the adoption was ₦464, 642.00 and ₦714, 833.00 respectively, with differential as 54%. The major constraints for low and non-adoption of some of the recommended cassava production practices were limited scale and uneven distribution of farmland, insufficient funds and complex nature of technologies disseminated to farmers. The study therefore recommended that technology developers should develop technologies that are simple, cost effective and easily adoptable by farmers. On the other hand, promoters of technology adoption should intensify efforts targeted at improving service delivery and the promotion of the adoption of recommended cassava production practices by the farmers, especially those technologies that recorded low levels of adoption. But more than this, it is recommended that the applicable technologies should be appropriate, easy to adopt and sustainable.