Determinants of Adoption of Selected NRCRI Cocoyam Technologies among Farmers in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria
John C. Ijioma, John B. Effiong, Michael O. Ogbonna, E A. Onwuamaoka

Abstract
The study examined “determinants of Adoption of selected National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike Umuahia, cocoyam technologies among farmers in Umuahia South Local government Area. This study was guided by the following specific objectives; to describe the socio – economic characteristics of cocoyam farmers in the study area, identify the cocoyam technologies introduced to the farmers, determine the level of adoption of the technologies among cocoyam farmers, determine the socio-economic factors influencing adoption of these cocoyam technologies, identify problems which affected the rate of adoption of cocoyam technologies in the study area. Multistage random sampling was used to select 3 blocks 2 circles from each block, and 2 sub circles from each circle. Finally, 10 cocoyam farmers were randomly selected from each of the 12 sub- circles, making a total of 120 cocoyam farmers. Primary data were collected from respondents by the use of structured questionnaire. Findings, indicated that majority of the farmers were between 40 and 60 years of age. Cocoyam farming was dominated by females. The farmers were literates by education assessment, and had farming experience between 6 to 15 years. Major findings revealed that 7 out of 19 technologies disseminated by NRCRI, had mean score (X2) above 3.00, and they include, control of CRRBC, cocoyam chips/flakes, cocoyam soup thickener, cocoyam flour, starch production, planting debt, and use of manure. The coefficient of age (-2.71) was negative and significant at 1% level of probability. Any increase in age will lead to corresponding decrease in adoption. The coefficient for education (4.45), farming experience (3.64), household size (3.74), extension contact with farmers (3.2), were positive and significant at 1% level of probability while coefficient of gender and access to credit was negative and significant at 1% level of probability. Poor infrastructural facilities, lack of fund to invest, poor knowledge of cocoyam technology, poor storage facilities, rot and decay of cocoyam, pest and disease attack among others, were constraint factors in cocoyam technology adoption. The study recommended that there should be awareness creations by extension in the used of various cocoyam technologies for production. There should be government policies towards encouraging young female farmers to increase adoption of cocoyam. Policies aimed at provision of free education to the females and encouragement in cocoyam farming must be put in place. Credit facilities should be made available to the cocoyam farmers by the government. All the constraints factors from the study are paramount to adoption of cocoyam and should be addressed by the State and Local government in conjunction with extension department.

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