AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG FARMERS IN OGBA/EGBEMA/NDONI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This research focused on the awareness and utilization of cassava production technologies among farmers in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Rivers State, the objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers in the study area, describe the current cassava production technologies utilized by farmers, identify the level of awareness of cassava production technologies by farmers, estimate the extent of utilization of cassava production technologies in the area and identify the constraints militating against the awareness and utilization of cassava production technologies in the area. The study was guided by two hypotheses, the research design used for this study was the descriptive survey, the population of this study comprised of all cassava farmers who are involved in cassava farming in the study area, simple sampling techniques was employed in the study, and sample size was 100. Primary data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaire as well as personal interview, data for the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean) and Inferential Statistics (Multiple Linear Regression). From the findings, majority (51.0%) used local variety, majority (82.0%) of the sampled cassava farmers reported using Zero tillage method of planting, majority (82.0%) reported not using fertilizers of any nature to fertilize their soil, the harvesting equipment used by cassava farmers in the study areas were the traditional farm implements, majority (63.0%) of the sampled farmers reported using a planting distance of 50cm by 50cm. Majority (81.0%) of cassava farmers reported being aware of production technologies available, majority (46.0%) of  Cassava farmers got information from family and friends. Improved cassava stem varieties (????̅ = 3.45) and Intercropping systems of Farming (????̅ = 3.22) were the cassava production technologies adopted by cassava farmers in the study area. The constraints militating against the awareness of cassava production technologies were lack of radio broadcast/ineffective frequencies (????̅ = 2.87), inadequate extension programme, (????̅ = 2.96), lack television programme (????̅ = 2.95), inadequate communication among farmers’ (????̅ = 2.65), inadequate community leadership (????̅ = 2.78). Utilization of cassava production technologies, the challenges were lack of technical/financial assistance (????̅ = 3.38), low income (????̅ = 2.60), inadequate government support (????̅ = 3.78), land ownership system (????̅ = 2.82). While inadequate accessibility of community roads (????̅ = 2.44) and high cost of input materials (????̅ = 2.08) were not challenges militating against utilization of cassava production among cassava farmers in the study.  The study concluded that farmers’ awareness level of cassava production technology had significant influence on their utilization and recommended that technical and financial assistance should be provided to cassava farmers in the study area to better adopt and utilize these technologies, Government support through grants, trainings and subsidies should be made available for cassava farmers to enable them adopt the technologies and extension trainings and programmes should be made available to the farmers to better understand these technologies in order to fully accept and adopt them.