Document Type : Articles
Authors
Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Nigeria
Abstract
This study assessed the adoption of improved production technologies among cassava contract and non-contract farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. These technologies are improved variety, recommended time of planting, recommended planting space and depth, use of herbicide for weed control, and tractorization, among others. Primary data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Education, sex, access to extension services, awareness of contract farming, and farming experience were found to influence farmers’ participation in contract farming. Most of the cassava contract farmers are in the trial and actual adoption stages, while the non-contract farmers are in the interest and evaluation stages. Furthermore, 69.2% and 10.8% of the contract and non-contract cassava farmers, respectively, are in the high adoption category; 24.2% and 57.5% of the contract and non-contract farmers are in the medium adoption category, while 6.7% and 31.7% of the contract and non-contract cassava farmers are in the low adoption category. The ordered logit regression model indicated that participation in contract farming, household size, education, and awareness of contract farming have a significant influence on the likelihood of adoption of improved cassava production technologies. Cassava contract farmers recorded an annual average output of 48.77 tons, while the non-contract farmers obtained a mean annual output of 19.03 tons. The mean difference among the two groups was 29.74 tons with a calculated z-value of 15.47, significant at the 1% significance level. The study recommended cassava farmers’ enrolment in formal education programme and participation in contract farming.
Keywords
)