ABSTRACT

 The study analyzed the determinants of adoption of snail farming technology in Mbieri, Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State. Thirty snail farmers were purposively selected from each of the four (4) circles in the Mbaitoli east block, making a total of 120 snail ' farmers. Out of the 120 questionnaire distnbuted to snail farmers, 106 was recovered. The circles were: Ihitte Isi Mbieri, Ezinihitte, Amaike I and Amaike II. The data collected were atralyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages), adoption model (AIETA) and multiple regression analysis. Results show that the level of adoption of the technology package was above average. Feeding snails with forage and housing them with m x 1m wooden cage, supply of drinking water and housing them with concrete block (5mx5m) were most widely adopted by the respondents with 81, 67% 58% and 41% respectively. Feeding snails with concentrate has the least adoption of 8% by the respondents. Level of education, income, age and farming experience were found to be variables significantly affecting the level of adoption of snail farming technology. Inadequate of extension contact, high cost of snail stock and high cost of feed concentrate were some of the problems affecting the adoption of snail farming technology in the study area. Snail tanners in the study area obtained agricultural information from their friends and neighbours resulting in the above average of adoption of snail fanning technology. It was recommended that extension delivery strategies be diversified and strengthened to boost snail farming through enhanced adoption of improved production technology.