Adoption of Improved Maize and Cassava Technology Packages by Farmers in Nkanu East and West of Enugu State, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted in Nkanu East and West Local Government Areas of Enugu State, Nigeria, with the key objective to determine adoption of improved maize and cassava technology packages by farmers in the area.
Data for the study were collected in 2008-2009 cropping season using 120 farmers randomly drawn from the two LGAs.
The results on the main sources of information used by the farmers revealed that 84.40% of them used radio, while 73.69% of them used television.
Households consisting of 6-10 persons per household constituted 63.33%, 51.67% of the respondents owned land of 1-3ha per farm household, while about 51.67% of them had between 8-14 years’ farming experience and 44.20% of the farmers belonged to 3-4 social organizations per person.
Findings further showed that 52.50% of the farmers had only 3 times contact with extension agents in the preceding year of this study while 94.17% of the farmers listen to agricultural programmes on radio.
Compatibility and complexity attributes received 72.50% and 81.67% affirmations respectively by the farmers. Between 2004-2005 and 2008 – 2009 seasons, awareness and adoption rates rose gradually from 7% – 28% while 84.17% of the respondents assented to having adopted the improved cultivars.
Although Pearson product moment coefficient of correlation and regression results revealed that factors such as household size, farm size, group membership mass media exposure and extension contact, compatibility and complexity were related to adoption at p<.05 and p<.01.
The major determinants of adoption were group membership, mass media exposure and compatibility at p<.05, while extension contact, farming experience and complexity were at p<.01.
Effects of adoption on farmers’ production, income and perceived individual well- being showed increases from mean production level of 4.57 tonnes per ha before adoption to 5.16 tonnes per ha after adoption.
Mean income level from N13,875.41per ha before adoption to N16,412.92 per ha after adoption and mean scale value of contentment from 2.43 before adoption to 3.20 after adoption.
Given that 91.67% of the farmers expressed dissatisfaction with lack of access to inorganic fertilizers, 75.00% of the respondents complained of lack of tractors for hiring and 62.50% of the farmers protested shortage of improved maize seeds and cassava stems.
Among others, the study recommends that a concerted effort be made by ENADEP and Enugu State Government to address the problems of the farmers in the area. Such intervention will no doubt enhance adoption potential of improved maize and cassava technology packages in the area and beyond.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgements – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – vi
Table of Contents – – – – – – – vii
List of Tables – – – – – – – – xi
List of Figures- – – – – – – – xii
List of Appendices – – – – – – – xiii
Acronyms – – – – – – – – xiv
Chapter 1
1.0 Introduction – – – – 1
1.1 Background to the Study- – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem – – – – – 3
1.3 Objectives of the Study – – – – – – 4
1.4 Justification of the Study – – – – – 5
1.5 Hypotheses of the Study – – – – – 6
Chapter 2
2.0 Literature Review – – – – – – – 7
2.1 Rural Development and Agricultural Extension – – 7
2.1.1 Rural Development – – – – – – 7
2.1.2 Agricultural Extension – – – – – 8
2.2 Adoption Process – – – – – – 9
2.2.1 Stages of Adoption – – – – – – 10
(a) Awareness stage – – – – – – 10
(b) Interest – – – – – – – 10
(c) Evaluation – – – – – – – 10
(d) Trial – – – – – – – 11
(e) Adoption – – – – – – – 11
2.2.2 Adopter Categories – – – – – – – 11
2.3 Socio-economic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovations- 11
2.4 Theoretical Framework – – – – – 13
2.4.1 Adoption Theories – – – – – – 13
(a) Risk and Uncertainly in Adoption of Innovations – – 14
(b) Empirical Studies Accounting for Risk and Uncertainty in Adoption 14
(c) Typology of Empirical Adoption Studies – – – 15
(d) Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Adoption of New Technologies 15
(e) Information Perspective on Adoption of New Technologies- 17
2.4.2 Theory of Diffusionism – – – – – 18
(a) Innovation – Decision Process Theory – – – 19
(b) Individual Innovativeness Theory- – – – 19
(c) Theory of Rate of Adoption – – – – 20
(d) Theory of Perceived Attributes. – – – – 20
2.4.3 Elements of Diffusion – – – – – – 20
2.4.4 Conceptual Model – – – – – – 21
Chapter 3
3.0 Methodology – – – – – – – 22
3.1 Study Area – – – – – – – 22
3.2 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size – – – 26
3.3 Data Collection – – – – – – 26
3.4 Analytical Techniques – – – – – 26
3.4.1 Regression Model – – – – – – 30
3.4.2 Testing of Hypotheses – – – – – 31
3.5 Concept of Effect – – – – – – 32
Chapter 4
4.0 Results and Discussion – – – – – 33
4.1 Main Sources of Information to the Farmer- – – – 33
4.2 Factors and Innovation Attributes Affecting Adoption – 34
4.3 Rates and Levels of Awareness – – – – 43
4.3.1 Rates of Awareness – – – – – – 43
4.3.2 Levels of Awareness – – – – – – 44
4.4 Rates and Levels of Adoption- – – – – 45
4.4.1 Rates of Adoption – – – – – – 45
4.4.2 Levels of Adoption – – – – – – 46
4.5 Relationships between Factors, in Relation to Innovation Attributes, and Farmers’ Adoption Behaviour – 48
4.6 Effects of Adoption on Farmers’ Production, Income and Perceived Individual Well-being — 50
4.7 Constraints to Farmers’ Adoption of the Technology Packages 53
4.8 Hypotheses’ Testing – – – – – – 54
Hypothesis 1 – – – – – – – 54
Hypothesis 2 – – – – – – – 55
Hypothesis 3 – – – – – – – 56
Chapter 5
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations – – 58
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – 58
5.2 Conclusion- – – – – – – – 60
5.3 Recommendations – – – – – – 62
5.4 Suggestions for Further Research – – – – 63
References – – – – – – – 64
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
The production of food and fibre to satisfy the world population is critical to the socio-economic well-being of all societies. Unless agricultural produce and products are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, in both urban and rural collectivities, the life chances of human populations are significantly reduced.
In the United States of America as well as other developed nations of the world, the productivity of agricultural sector has been consistently high for decades (Camboni and Napier, 1993).
As a major source of economic buoyancy, those countries have over the years placed high values on agriculture by making generous budgetary provisions to the sector, particularly in the areas of research and extension activities.
Consequently, several studies on adoption – diffusion of innovations aimed at boosting farm productivity have been conducted which have largely translated into their present self-sufficiency in food production.
Some of the studies according to Rogers (1962) included: congruence versus profitability in the diffusion of hybrid sorghum (Brandner and Straus, 1959); T
he adoption of two farm practices in a Central Iowa Community (Beal and Rogers, 1960); Adoption of new ideas and practices (Lionberger, 1960);
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