Adoption of Agricultural Technologies Transferred Via Radio-Farmer Programme Among Farmers In Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the adoption of technologies transferred via Radio-Farmer programme among farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. A sample of 360 farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaire. The Multi stage, proportional random sampling procedure was used in sample selection. Data analysis involved use of descriptive statistics. Result showed that most of the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers significantly influenced the adoption of technologies transferred. Result further shows that fourteen improved technologies were transferred. Results revealed that level of adoption of improved technologies was generally low. Result show that majority of the farmers had more than N150,000 as their farm income with mean annual income of N161, 4623.61. The modal age group was 40-49 years while the mean age was 46 years. Majority (50.9%) had between 5 to 8 persons in their households with mean household size of 8 persons. Also most of the farmers (60.8%) had spent 7-12 with mean literacy level of 8.5 years. Majority had enough years of farming experiences which was approximated to 11 years with the modal class of 11-15 years. Result shows that fourteen improved technologies were disseminated to farmers via Radio-Farmer programme only one was adopted. Fertilizer application had the highest level adoption (x=5.7) followed fish pond construction technique.(x=4.1). Result show that major technologies perceived to be highly disseminated were practical tips (=2.9) fertilizer application (x = 2.8) cassava processing (2.8) soil conservation (x=2.8) and timely harvesting of crops (x=2.8). Furthermore, the improved technologies perceived to be moderately disseminated were cassava/yam/melon (x=2.7) weed control (x=2.7) and staking of yam (x=2.7) while plantain production technologies (x=2.3) was lowly frarely transferred. The major constraints were high cost of inputs (X=2.9), lack of collaboration between farmers, research and extension (x=2.9) and lack of feedback (x = 2.9). The major recommendation is that farmers should form Radio-Farmer programme listeners group and arrange to listen to the Radio-Farmer programme together in order to avail themselves the opportunity to interact and discuss the content of the broadcast.