FOOD SECURITY INDEX AND ADOPTION OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES AMONG SESAME FARMERS, ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated food security index and adoption of agricultural technologies among sesame farmers in Abuja, Nigeria. The objectives specifically designed for this study were: determine the socio-economic profiles or characteristics of sesame farmers, evaluate the food security index of sesame farmers, determine the marginal productivity of sesame farmers, determine the adoption index of sesame farmers and evaluate factors influencing adoption of agricultural technologies among sesame farmers. Data used were of primary sources. Data were collected using well-designed and also well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was subjected to validity and reliability tests. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select 100 sesame farmers. Data were analyzed using the following statistical and econometric tools: descriptive statistics, food security index, marginal productivity, adoption index and Logit regression model. The results show that 70% of sesame farmers were less than 50 years which implies that they are young, active, energetic and resourceful. Also, 64% of sesame farmers were married and 90% of them had formal education. The household sizes were large with an average of 7 people per household. Sesame farmers had considerable experiences in farm activities with an average of 8 years experiences in sesame farming. Based on headcount ratio, 54% of sesame farming households was food secure while 46% were food insecure. Two-third mean of per capital expenditure on food by sesame farming households was 1, 551.10 Naira Resource productivity shows that land, seed, and fertilizers were under-utilized while labour was over-utilized. An average adoption index of 72% was estimated and 47.37% of sesame farmers were medium adopters while 52.63% of sesame farmers were high adopters of agricultural technologies. Age(P<0.05), extension contact(P<0.10), educational level (P<0.05), access to credit facilities(P<0.10), farming experiences (P<0.05), and farm income (P<0.05) were the statistical and significant factors influencing adoption of agricultural technologies among sesame farmers. The study recommends easy access to improved agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers, labour input and land by sesame farmers and increased extension contact with sesame farmers in the area.

Keywords

• food security
• marginal productivity
• adoption
• agricultural technologies
• abuja
• nigeria