Analysis of Factors Influencing Adoption of Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) among Cassava Farmers under Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda

Abstract

This study investigated the adoption rate and factors influencing the adoption of cassava technologies among farmers under Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). A total of 60 participating cassava farmers were randomly selected through a multi-stage sampling approach. Data were collected with the aid of a well structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit regression model. The results showed that the mean age of participating farmers under the program were about 47 years. On the issues of gender of the farmers, 75% and 25% of the cassava farmers were male and female respectively. Farmers have adequate access to extension education with average visits of 15 times per annum. It was observed that several technologies on cassava had been disseminated and promoted among farmers under ATASP-1 project. Higher adoption rate was observed among the farmers which hold good promise for increased productivity. Only few technologies such as mechanization, conservation of stem, record keeping and yields assessment had low rate of adoption rate. It was equally discovered that the adoption of cassava technologies were influenced by socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers such as age, gender and education of the respondents. The study recommends a continuous training on the use and benefit of the technologies to facilitate farmers’ understanding of the importance of these technologies as well as techniques behind their utilization with a view to sustaining adoption and productivity. Also, there is need to encourage women to participate in the project as well as encourage them to take up farming as a business