ABSTRACT

The study investigated the adoption of improved cassava production technologies in Isiukwuato local government area in Abia State. The study was aimed at determining the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, the level of adoption of improved cassava production and the factors constraining the adoption of improved cassava production technology in the area. This study area was Isiukwuato local government area of Abia State. Four (4) different communities were randomly selected from the local government area. The areas covered include: Umuebereja, Umueberenkuma, Umuobiala and Umuokogbuo. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to the respondents throughout the data collection period who were randomly selected. The primary data were obtained through well structured questionnaires returned by the respondents. Logit model was use to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of improved cassava production technology by the farmers which are: sex, age, marital status, level of education, household size, income, years of experience and extension contact. The estimated logit model results revealed that education level, set, marital status, income of the farmers and contact with extension agents were significant factors on the adoption of improved cassava varieties at varying degrees of significance. The level of education and farmers contact with extension workers were both significant at 1% level of significance and had a positive relationship with the level of adoption, while the income was positively correlated to the adoption, and gender also had a negative significant relationship at 10%, moreso, marital status had a positive relationship significant at 10%. While the variables: age, years of experience, household size, did not bear any significant relationship with the level of adoption. The major constraints faced by the farmers include difficulty in credit loan, lack of technical knowledge, poor extension contact, cost of improved variety, high incidence of pest and disease and poor small plot adoption technique. Appropriate and useful recommendations were stated and if implemented will improve the adoption of improved cassava production technology in Abia State in all ramification as the study revealed that adoption is higher among literate social class farmers because they can read papers and interact effectively with extension agents.