ABSTRACT

This project aimed at examining the adoption of improved cassava varieties. The main objective of the study was to examine the adoption of improved cassava varieties by farmers in Enugu Agricultural zone. Other specifib3ectives include to identify the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents; (ii) determineawareness; (iii) assess farmer's response to the general characteristics of improved cassava varieties available in the area; (iv) identify factors that militate against adoption of improved cassava varieties and make recommendation based on the result of the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and supplemented with interview, Simple random sampling of ten (10) autonomous communities out of fifteen (l) communities in Ihe :'onewas employed. Statistics such as mean, frequency, percentage, while probit analysis and Pearson correlation moment analysis were used for determinants ot adoption ol' improved cassava varieties in the zone. Most of' the variable were found to be statistically significant as determinants of adoption for example x3 (- 3.17452), x5 (2.11180) were significant at 1% level of significance, while x7(1.70702) x2( -197183). were significant at 5°/a and x4 (1.58289) at 10% level. The result revealed that 50% of the farmers have adopted the innovation, while 56% of the farmer were males and belonged to the middle aged group. About 87% of the respondents were aware of the improved cassava varieties in the zone. Most of the respondents (87%) had little or no formal education. About 53% of the farmers had no contact with Extension agents while 37% had contact with extension agents once in two weeks finally 56% of the farmers complained of problem of land fragmentation while 44°/a complained of scarcity of inputs. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are made. (i) Frequency f extension contacts with the farmers should he Agricultural Research Institute should try to make materials available as and when due and cooperative should be encouraged more