SOURCE:

Faculty: Management Sciences
Department: Co-opreative Economics And Management

CONTRIBUTORS:

Ogbodo, I.
Umebali, E. E.

ABSTRACT:

This study is an attempt to evaluate factors that drive adoption of improved agricultural technologies among cooperative rice farmers who participated in FADAMA programme. The work was motivated by the need to understand the extent of adoption of improved agricultural technologies as well as measures to quicken uptake of agricultural technologies. The objectives of the study were to determine the extent of adoption; evaluate determinants of adoption; determine the effect of cooperatives on the level of adoption as well as hindrances to adoption. The area of study was Enugu State and 320 rice farmers were randomly selected from 24 agricultural cooperatives. Questionnaire was the instrument of data collection and data were analyzed using one sample test, regression analysis and one-way ANOVA. Findings revealed that cooperative rice farmers have significantly adopted improved agricultural technologies. Significant determinants of adoption include literacy level, farm size, and frequency of contact with extension agents, farming experience, availability of success stories and the number of trainings attended. Cooperative membership had significant effect on level of adoption. Moreover, hindrances to adoption included inadequate extension services, illiteracy, high cost of adoption and type of media used. It is therefore recommended that extension services should be restructured in terms of personnel and mode of delivery, Cooperatives should also be strengthened in order to contribute effectively to technology adoption.