Adoption of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Production Technologies among Small-scale Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies among small-scale farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identified the motivational factors influencing the adoption of orange-fleshed sweet potato production technologies, ascertained the adoption level of orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies and identified the constraints to the farmers adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies. Multi-stage involving purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 120 respondents for the study. The data were collected from primary sources through the use of well structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The result showed that the major motivational factors influencing adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies were high yield (m=3.80), health benefits (m=3.68), profit from sales (m=3.57), pleasant taste (m=3.46), and early maturity (m=3.33). The overall adoption index was 0.67, implying that the farmers in the area adopted 67% of the orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies introduced to them by extension agents. The result of the factor analysis indicated that the major constraining factors to the adoption of orange fleshed sweet potato production technologies in the area were production, institutional and technological factors. The study recommended that farmers should be encouraged to have access to credit at one digit interest rate from agricultural credit institutions. Also extension agents should sit up to its responsibility through improved courage in terms of scope and quality of service rendered to farmers. This would enable the farmers to have full knowledge and benefits in orange fleshed sweet potatoes.