Socio-economic Determinants to Adoption of Tropical Mosaic Selection (TMS) Cassava Varieties by Small- holder Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria.
- February 14, 2022
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: Agriculture, IJRISS, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Ume, S. I1, Edeh, O N2 and Udefi, O I.3
1Department of Agricultural Extension and Management, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ivo local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Igbariam Sub – Station, Anambra State, Nigeria.
3Nigeria Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Yaba Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract:- The study was to determine factors influencing the rate and level of adoption of Tropical Mosaic Selection (TMS) cassava variety with presumptuous that the two decisions process were separate. The double-hurdle model was employed to address the objective with this important peculiarity in mind. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from one hundred and twenty cassava farmers that were selected using multi-staged random selection procedures. Results indicated that 56.7%of the sampled farmers reported adoption of TMS cassava variety with a mean proportion of 0.48. Farmers’ decision on adoption of TMS cassava technology was positively affected by extension services, farm size, educational level and fertilizer . On the other hand, farmers’ decision on level of adoption of improved cassava varieties was significantly affected by years of adoption experience and extension services that were positively signed, whilst fertilizer had indirect relationship with the dependent variable. The need to enhance the farmers’ access to educational programme, extension services and adequate farm holding were recommended
Keywords: Adoption, Double-hurdle, TMS cassava variety, Rate and Intensity, Nigeria.
INTRODUCTION
Innovations in agriculture have been central among approaches for addressing food insecurity through increased productivity, outstandingly cassava (Ume, Onuh, Jiwuba, and Onunka, (2018). Cassava is a perennial shrub of the family Euphorbiaceae and staple food for more than 200 million people in most countries in sub-Sahara Africa (Ibitoye, 2011). Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world (47,274,320 metric tons in the year 2017) with about 21 percent of world cassava production (FAOSTAT 2018). The development and introduction of improved cassava varieties has long been documented as one of the strategic approaches for transforming the cassava industry and for boosting the welfare of Nigeria’s rural populace who are predominantly farmers (Nwakor, Ifenkwe, Okoye, Onummadu, Anyaegbunam, Ekedo, and Onyia; 2010).
However, among numerous improved cassava varieties developed by International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and National Root Crop Research Institute(NRCRI) in collaboration with government of Federal Republic Nigeria was Tropical Manihot Selection (TMS). This variety TMS although exists under different cultivars (TMS 50395, 63397, 30555, 4(2)1425, TMS, 30211 and 30572) but has singular characteristics of being tolerant to Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and Cassava Spider mite (CSM), low in cyanide content, drought resistant, early maturing, and high yielding (Ume, et al; 2018). Amongst the TMS varieties, TMS 30572 variety was the most popular, especially among Nigeria farmers who process it as gari for sale in urban markets (Nweke 2009).
Nevertheless, Agricultural Development Programme, (ADP), higher institutions, research organizations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) champion the course of distributing the technology to farmers in both and rural and urban areas. For example, ADPs in the thirsty six States of the country and Abuja (Federal capital territory) through Rural Infrastructural (RID), their multiplication unit had distributed more than a millions of the cassava cuttings to different parts of the country. The scheme involved distributing of five bundles of fifty cuttings to individual farmers with limited extension follow up, as par technical advice on adherence to cropping geometry (1mx1m spacing), use of inorganic fertilizer; pesticides application, adequate disease control, timely weeding and cultural practices (Nwakor, et al; 2010).
Although, cassava, particularly TMS variety is of premeditated prominence on economic development and food security in Nigeria, systematic studies have not been conducted to assess the decision to adopt and intensity of use of the variety. Studies on factors influencing farmers’ decision to invest on cassava variety are non-existent. Information as relates to use of the improved cassava and associated improved production recommendations is very limited. The objective of this research is to examine the rate and extent of adoption of TMS cassava variety; and to identify and quantify factors that influence adoption of TMS cassava variety production in rural small-scale cassava production systems. This research marks distinctiveness amid factors influencing the decision to adopt and the decision on how much to adopt TMS cassava variety. Herein, adoption rates in this study connote the proportion of farmers who have adopted TMS cassava variety. The intensity of adoption is the definite proportion of TMS variety that a given household possess. The paper was organized as follows. The next section discussed theoretical model and empirical specification. Section 3 outlines the Materials and methods and results and discussion. Finally, conclusions and recommendations were put in the last section.
