Cassava innovation application among small scale farmers in North Central Nigeria: A panacea for farmers livelihood status.

Abstract

The study assess cassava innovation adoption among small scale farmers in North Central Nigeria. Specific objectives are to; describe socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, examines sources of information, determine level of cassava innovation adoption, and to identify the constraining factors affecting cassava innovation adoption in the study area. A multistage sampling techniques was used to select 750 cassava farmers. Primary data were collected with validated questionnaires having reliability coefficient of r=0.87. Descriptive statistics, adoption scale and factor analysis were employed for data counts. The results revealed that, the mean age was 35.5years, 60.0% and 96.0% were male and married. 57% had secondary education, 73.3% were members of cooperative. 96.0% and 73.3% of the respondents operates less than two hectares and had annual income from N 151,000- N200, 000 respectively. Majority (73.3%) acquired their land through inheritance. 80% had no extension contact. Major source of information was radio. Among innovations adopted were improved cassava variety (TME419) with adoption score of 78.7% which ranked 1st and the use of pickup van for transportation with adoption score of 77.3% which rank 2nd. In adequate extension service and poor extension contact were the major constraints to cassava innovations adoption with the mean values of (𝑥=4.69) and (𝑥=4.67) respectively. It was recommended that, there should be adequate and quality extension contact to acquaint cassava farmers with technical information to increase productivity and improve their livelihood status.