Greener
Journal of  Agricultural Sciences
Vol. 2 (6), pp.
259-268,
October
2012

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research
Paper

Manuscript Number: 09111259

 

Factors Influencing Rural Youth Adoption of Cassava
Recommended Production Practices in Onu-Imo Local Government
Area of Imo State, Nigeria

           

¹Chikezie
N.P., ¹Omokore D.F., ¹Akpoko J.G. and
^2*Chikaire J.

 

¹Department
of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Institute of
Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Nigeria.

 ²Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal
University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email: rosafyne24 @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

The broad objective of the study was to
determine the factors influencing rural youth adoption of
cassava recommended production practices in Onu-Imo Local
Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The specific
objectives were to: describe the socio-economic
characteristics and institutional variables affecting rural
youth involved in cassava production activities; determine
the level of adoption of recommended cassava production
practices by rural youth in Onu-Imo Local Government Area
and their effects; identify the factors influencing rural
youth adoption of recommended cassava production practices.
Data for the study were collected using structured
questionnaire administered to 120 rural youth cassava
producers. Four communities were purposively sampled based
on their rurality and intensity in cassava production. About
10 percent of the rural youth cassava farmers were randomly
selected from each village. The analytical tools employed
were percentages, ranking, correlation and regression
analysis. Results show that the level of adoption of the
recommended cassava production practices was high. Findings
of the study reveal that 40percent of the respondents
adopted planting healthy stems cut at midpoint while
moderate to high level of adoption was found for five other
recommended production practices (planting time, plant
spacing, planting on ridges, weeding time and fertilizer
application). The determinants of adoption were: age,
gender, marital status, education, farm size, house hold
size, farming experience, amount of credit received,
extension contact, and membership of cooperative societies,
yield and income. Both correlation and regression
coefficients were found to be significant for household
size, extension contact, yield and income. Based on the
findings of this study, it is recommended that credit should
be made available to youth cassava farmers to enable them
remain in business. Efforts should be made to introduce
modern processing equipment (technology) to cassava
producers. This will go a long way to reduce wastage.
Furthermore, policy measures that would guarantee increase
in yield and farm income of the rural youth involved in
cassava production as well as provide cost effective inputs
is recommended, as this will invariably improve rural
livelihood and food security of the nation.
 
Keywords: Youths, adoption, technology, cassava,
yield.

Return to Content      View
Reprint
(PDF)