Abstract
The study ascertained the determinants of adoption of two improved cassava varieties developed and transferred by National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike to farmers in Abia State and the whole of South-East Agro-ecological Zone of Nigeria. The study was based on the mandate of Natural Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, which are development of Root and Tuber crops Technologies and dissemination of the technology to the farmers. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the determinants of the adoption of two improved cassava varieties among farmers in Abia State, determine the socio-economic profile of respondents, investigate the level of adoption of these varieties, discuss farmers perception of these cassava varieties, identify and analyzed the determinants of adoption of this technology. The data were collected by means of simple random sampling. The data were collected from 150 farmers randomly selected from five out of 17 LGAs, in Abia State. An interview schedule with a well’ structured questionnaire was used for the study. The data were analyzed by means of frequency tables, percentages, means, classical model and probit model analysis. The result of probit model analysis on determinants of adoption of these varieties shows an R2 value of 0.3842 for TME 419 and 0.2677 for NR8082 varieties. This indicates that 38.4% of the variation of adoption of TME 419 cassava variety was explained (or accounted for) by the independent variables considered in this study. Similarly, the analysis revealed that 27% of variation in adoption of NR8082 cassava variety was accounted for by the variables examined in this study. The significant determinants of adoption of the two improved varieties were: educational status, farming experience, sex, membership of co-operative society, extension contact, adaptability of technology and compatibility of technology which significantly and positively influenced adoption. Age, sex and complexity of technology had negative influence on adoption. The level of adoption of these varieties had a grand mean of 3.89 which was higher than the mean adoption score of TME419 but lower than that of NR8082 showing that NR8082 has higher level of adoption than TME 419. The result exposed the reasons for adoption and non adoption of these varieties, the problems facing cassava farmers in the study area, the suggested remedies by the farmers. Since farmers accepted these two varieties in their varying degrees as a result of their qualities, it was recommended that cassava research institute would continue to multiply these improved and accepted varieties to the farmers for increased productivity.It was also recommended that Agricultural inputs be made available for farmers at subsidize rates, such as fertilizers, improved planting materials like cassava varieties, that are resistance to attacks of higher animals like goat. Labour subsidy, provision of loan and establishment of nearby markets for cassava farmers will help to improve agricultural production in the study area as well as reducing the problem of Economic /food crisis in the economy today.
