Articles
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGIES ON VEGETABLE CROPS BY SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Article number
1007_76
Pages
657 – 664
Language
English
Abstract
The study identified the factors influencing the adoption of technologies on vegetable crops by small-scale farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.
Data collected from one hundred and four (104) randomly selected vegetable farmers using structured questionnaire were analyzed and presented using frequency distribution and percentages.
The results showed that 71.2% were females, 59.6% were between 21-40 years and 76.9% were married.
About 76.9% had at least primary education, 63.5% had at least 10 years farming experience and 63.4% earned more than N 140, 000 ($ 897.43) annually.
About 92.3% farm on at most 1 ha of land and 78.8% depended on neighbours/friends/relatives for information on vegetable production.
About 95% agree that extension activities on vegetable crops are low.
A Chi-square test showed that sex was significantly related to spacing, use of fertilizer, seed treatment, use of pesticide and use of herbicides at 5% level while age was significantly related to inorganic fertilizer use at 10% level.
Educational status was significantly related to the use of herbicide at 1% level and use of pesticides and seed treatment at 5% levels.
Income was significantly related to the use of inorganic fertilizer at 1% level and seed treatment and storage at 5% levels.
Years of vegetable farm experience was significantly related to use of herbicide, use of pesticide, site selection, seed treatment and bed making at 5% levels.
It was recommended that since sex and years of farm experience exerted more influence on adoption of vegetable production technologies, communication of information on vegetables should be gender related to improve the level of acceptance.
Data collected from one hundred and four (104) randomly selected vegetable farmers using structured questionnaire were analyzed and presented using frequency distribution and percentages.
The results showed that 71.2% were females, 59.6% were between 21-40 years and 76.9% were married.
About 76.9% had at least primary education, 63.5% had at least 10 years farming experience and 63.4% earned more than N 140, 000 ($ 897.43) annually.
About 92.3% farm on at most 1 ha of land and 78.8% depended on neighbours/friends/relatives for information on vegetable production.
About 95% agree that extension activities on vegetable crops are low.
A Chi-square test showed that sex was significantly related to spacing, use of fertilizer, seed treatment, use of pesticide and use of herbicides at 5% level while age was significantly related to inorganic fertilizer use at 10% level.
Educational status was significantly related to the use of herbicide at 1% level and use of pesticides and seed treatment at 5% levels.
Income was significantly related to the use of inorganic fertilizer at 1% level and seed treatment and storage at 5% levels.
Years of vegetable farm experience was significantly related to use of herbicide, use of pesticide, site selection, seed treatment and bed making at 5% levels.
It was recommended that since sex and years of farm experience exerted more influence on adoption of vegetable production technologies, communication of information on vegetables should be gender related to improve the level of acceptance.
Publication
Authors
O.E. Odiaka, A. Osupala, N.I. Odiaka
Keywords
small scale farmers, technology adoption, vegetable technology
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