Articles
ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN CITRUS PRODUCTION AND POSTHARVEST HANDLING IN SELECTED STATES OF SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA
Article number
1007_105
Pages
881 – 887
Language
English
Abstract
Citrus production per unit area remains low in Nigeria hypothetically due to low technology-driven cultivation.
The present study assessed the areas of involvement and rates of citrus technology generation by researchers, dissemination by extension officers and adoption by farmers in Ogun, Ondo and Osun States of Southwestern Nigeria.
Thirty two citrus value chain researchers were selected from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). The States were divided into fruit and non-fruit producing zones using the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zoning arrangement. 106 of the extension officers (Block Extension Agents and Village Extension Agents) and 210 citrus farmers selected through the snowball sampling method were interviewed using a pretested interview schedule for farmers and questionnaire for researchers and extension officers.
Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and analysis of variance.
Most (62.5%) of the researchers focus on technology generation on citrus orchard site selection and preparation, while 97.2 and 99.0% of the extension officers and farmers concentrate on harvesting techniques technology dissemination and orchard management technology adoption , respectively.
There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the rate of citrus technology generation, dissemination and adoption by researchers, extension officers and farmers.
This indicates disharmony in citrus technology-driven efforts among stakeholders.
Researchers should align their focus with that of extension officers and farmers in order to keep pace with the rate of demand for citrus technology.
The present study assessed the areas of involvement and rates of citrus technology generation by researchers, dissemination by extension officers and adoption by farmers in Ogun, Ondo and Osun States of Southwestern Nigeria.
Thirty two citrus value chain researchers were selected from the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) and Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). The States were divided into fruit and non-fruit producing zones using the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) zoning arrangement. 106 of the extension officers (Block Extension Agents and Village Extension Agents) and 210 citrus farmers selected through the snowball sampling method were interviewed using a pretested interview schedule for farmers and questionnaire for researchers and extension officers.
Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and analysis of variance.
Most (62.5%) of the researchers focus on technology generation on citrus orchard site selection and preparation, while 97.2 and 99.0% of the extension officers and farmers concentrate on harvesting techniques technology dissemination and orchard management technology adoption , respectively.
There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the rate of citrus technology generation, dissemination and adoption by researchers, extension officers and farmers.
This indicates disharmony in citrus technology-driven efforts among stakeholders.
Researchers should align their focus with that of extension officers and farmers in order to keep pace with the rate of demand for citrus technology.
Publication
Authors
L.O. Olajide-Taiwo, A.O. Akinsorotan, F.B. Olajide-Taiwo
Keywords
technology generation, technology dissemination, technology adoption, value chain, citrus
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