Journal of Agricultural Extension (Jun 2015)
Determinants of Adoption of Cassava Technologies by Male Farmers in Nasarawa State
Abstract
Abstract This study investigated determinants of adoption of recommended cassava production technologies among male farmers in Nasarawa State. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed for the selection of the respondent. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were collected from 60 male cassava farmers selected from 6 out of 13 LGAs in the State. They were Karu, Kokona, Akwanga, NasarawaEggon, Lafia and Obi. Data were analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, and percentage were used to describe socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Logit regression model was used to estimate the determinants of adoption of these practices. The results showed that awareness and adoption of these practices were very high (Awareness of all the practices ranges from 90% to 98.3% while the adoption is from 63.3% to 90%). Factors that positively and significantly influenced adoption by male farmers were income (p=0.01) and extension contact (p=0.1). It was concluded that men made remarkable contribution in cassava production. Therefore, it was recommended that Governments at all levels are advised to formulate policies aimed at encouraging and motivating them. Policies like giving loans to male farmers and making agricultural inputs should be made available at subsidized rates to improve cassava production in the study area. Processing industries be established to add value to cassava which will help to increase the sale and income from cassava in the study area.
