Effect of cassava farmers’ participation in extenstion training programme in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study analyzed the effect of cassava farmers’ participation in extension training programme on their output in Kogi State, Nigeria. It describe the socio-economic characteristics of the cassava farmers, evaluate the costs and returns on cassava production and constraints associated with cassava production in the study area. Primary data were collected from 120 randomly selected cassava farmers using structured questionnaire complemented with an interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (such as frequency count, percentages and mean) and inferential statistics such as Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis. The finding revealed that majority (65.8%) of the respondents were males, while 67.5% were married. The mean age of the respondents was 44 years, household size was 6 people and mean year of education of 13. The costs and returns result showed gross margin and net farm income of ₦36,264.38 and ₦35,058.98 respectively with profitability ratio of ₦2.73 implying that for every one naira invested, there is returns of 2:72 kobo, thus profitability enterprise. The OLS regression result revealed R2 of 0.6109, and F-statistic value of 8.52 which is statistically significant (p<0.01). The coefficient of participation is 1165.88 at p<0.1 implying that there was significant effect of participation in extension training programme on cassava output. Major constraints identified by the respondents were problem of inadequate capital (67.5%), problem of transportation (65.8%), problem of pests and diseases (62.5%) and problem of land degradation (60.8%) ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively. In conclusion, there is significant effect of cassava farmers’ participation in extension training programme on their output in the study area. It was therefore recommended that programme implementers should endevour to provide relevant production inputs especially planting materials along with the training.