Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 18 ISSUE 1
Written by Chidinma Gladys ANYANWU

The study analyzed cassava farmers’ adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred and twenty (120) cassava farmers. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics such as: frequency counts, mean scores and percentages. The result revealed that 60% of the respondents were males, with mean ages of 51.2 years, 35% acquired secondary education, mean farming experience of 26.7 years, mean annual farm income of ₦278, 275.00 and extension contact (X ̅ = 2.2) times in a month. Result reveals that farmers adopted cassava agronomic practices as; improved cassava cuttings (X ̅ =4.7), ridge/mound making technologies practices (X ̅ = 4.6), site selection /land clearing and weeding interval technologies (X ̅ = 4.3), pest and disease control (X ̅ =4.2) and planting dates and time of harvest (X ̅ =3.9) with a grand mean adoption score of 4.3. The farmers also adopted intercrop technologies as; cassava/maize/egusi (X ̅ =4.3) and cassava/maize/telferia and cassava value addition (X ̅ =4.2) with a grand mean adoption of 3.4. The levels of utilization of cassava production technologies on agronomic practices indicate that the respondents utilized site selection/land clearing and ridge/mound making (X ̅ =2.8), improved cassava cuttings, fertilizer application and weeding technologies (X ̅ =2.7) and pest and disease control and planting spacing (X ̅ =2.4) with grand mean utilization score of 2.6. The farmers also utilized intercrop technologies as; cassava/maize/egusi technologies (X ̅ =2.9), cassava value addition technologies (X ̅ =2.5) with grand mean utilization score of 2.1. High wage rate, lack of credit, technology attributes, inadequate land and pest and diseases infestation were serious constraints affecting adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies. Increased extension contact, access on improved varieties and subsidy on farm inputs were advocated for adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies in the study area.

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