Farmers adoption of improved techniques of sweet potato production in Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study was conducted in Niger state Nigeria; it investigated the factors affecting the adoption of improved sweet potatoes technologies. Two local Governments were purposively selected and a total of one hundred and fifty (150) sweet potato farmers were randomly selected from 2 extension blocks from the two local Governments. A well-structured interview schedule was used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency tables, percentage, mean, and regression statistical tool (logit model) was also used to determine the factors affecting adoption. The result revealed that Age (X[), Farm size (X2), Educational level (X3), Farming experience (X4) and household size (X5) had a significant relationship with adoption. Furthermore, the level of awareness of improved potato techniques among the respondents was high (98.0%!, however 2.0% claimed they were not aware, The study also shows that extension agents (40%) and friends and neighbours (42.7%) were the principal sources of information and distribution of improved potato technology packages. The following technologies were highly adopted, fertilizer use (3.6), weeding regime (3.7) and harvesting techniques (3.9). Some constraints to technology adoption includes small farm size (63.3%), high cost of technology (56.7%), inadequate-, extension contact (60.0%) complexity of technology (68.7%) and also inadequate credit (74.7%). All the constraints were however perceived as important (with mean scores equal to or above 3.0) in exception of religious belief (1.8.) The significant mean difference in yield before and after adoption of improved potato technologies reveals that adoption of improved technologies has significant effect on the output of the potato farmers and consequently on their income and standard of living.