Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Orange Fleshed Sweet potato (OFSP) Production Among Smallholder Farmers In Kwara State, Nigeria.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue III, March 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (Ofsp) Production Among Smallholder Farmers In Kwara State, Nigeria.

Emmanuel David¹, Amos, A. Olasore², Abdullahi Mohammed³, Ambrose Asagba4, Stephen A. Adams⁴ Salihu Yakubu ⁵ Moses, A. Omonayin^1
1Extension Management Division, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, Ilorin, Nigeria.
²Enterprise Development Management Division, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, Ilorin, Nigeria.
³Rural Infrastructures and Institutions Development Division, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, (ARMTI), Ilorin, Nigeria.
⁴Research Division, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, Ilorin, Nigeria.
⁵Women and Youth Development Division, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Abstract
This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the adoption of Orange Fleshed Sweet potato (OFSP) as well as the constraints to non-adoption of (OFSP) varieties among small holder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from one hundred and twenty (120) sweet potato farmers (sixty adopters and sixty non-adopters each). The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools like, percentage, mean scores and likert scale. The results of the study revealed that larger percent of both adopters and non-adopters of OFSP were males. Also, the majority of adopters had high knowledge, while non-adopters had moderate knowledge of OFSP. The adopters were motivated to adopt the OFSP mainly as a result of its high yield, pleasant taste, nutrient content of the roots, profit from the sale of OFSP roots and early maturing. The Perceived constraints to the adoption of OFSP by non-adopters were inadequate capital to carry out necessary farm activities, high cost of required inputs (herbicides, Organic fertilizer, and OFSP vines) for OFSP production and difficulty in integrating OFSP production technologies into existing production system. It was recommended that, concerted effort should be made to include OFSP in the mandate of extension workers and provide adequate incentives to them so that they can sensitize farmers on the importance of this crop. Also, farm inputs should be subsidized for farmers in order to promote OFSP production.

Keywords: Adoption, Orange Fleshed Sweet potato, Smallholder famers & Production.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Nigeria is the second largest producer of sweet potato in the world after China with an annual output of 3.46 million metric tons per year [1]. Efforts to control vitamin A deficiency include supplementation and elemental fortification, each of which has been reported effective, but slow in combating the deficiency [2]. Recently, emphasis in many countries has been placed on supplementation programs using vitamin capsules. Though effective, there is need for repeated distribution every six months, which is costly and may not be accessed by some rural poor. Food-based approach has been reported as the most sustainable solution to this unenviable situation of food and nutrient deficiency, especially bio-fortification [2]. Bio-fortification is used to reduce micronutrient deficiency through traditional breeding of certain crops that contain higher levels of essential micronutrients [3]. The orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) variety has been biofortified to contain high levels of beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A [4].
Different sweet potato varieties have different concentrations of beta-carotene. Orange-fleshed sweet potato roots have a nutritional advantage over white- or cream-fleshed sweet potato roots because their beta-carotene, and therefore vitamin A, content is higher. This is evidenced by the deep orange colour of the sweet potato fleshed, which is related to the higher beta-carotene and vitamin A content. The highest beta-carotene and vitamin A content is found in the deepest or most bright orange-fleshed varieties. Orange-fleshed sweet potato roots are also a recommended source of vitamin A because they are inexpensive. Research [5] has found OFSP to be one of the cheapest sources of vitamin. It costs less than one cent per day to meet the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for a child less than six years through the consumption of OFSP roots. In addition to providing high levels of vitamin A, OFSP roots contain high levels of vitamins B, C, E and K, all of which help protect our bodies and assist in the illness recovery process [6]. Orange-fleshed sweet potato roots also have high carbohydrate content, allowing them to produce more edible energy per hectare per day than other common sources of carbohydrates such as rice and maize.

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