Approaches for accelerating the adoption of the yam minisett technology by small farmers in south eastern Nigeria: implications for farmer education

Abstract

The cultural importance of yam seems obvious. The study examined some approaches to accelerate the adoption of the yam minisett technology by small-scale farmers in south eastern Nigeria, with implications for farmer education. Data were collected from nine hundred yam farmers, using pre-tested structured questionnaire and interviews and analysed using percentages, means, chi-square, analysis of variance and Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (r). The findings indicates that: (a) The intensification of on-farm adaptive trials (b) constant training and visiting system (T&V) and agricultural education of farmers (c) assurance of good market outlets (d) good agricultural insurance scheme and (e) steady and timely supply of needed farm inputs were identified as approaches for accelerating yam minisett technology. The findings have significant implications for farmer\'s education necessary for the adoption of the yam minisett technology for the production of seed yams in Nigeria and the developing nations.

Keywords: yam minisett, small-scale farmers, south eastern Nigeria

Plant Products Research Journal Vol. 8(1) 2004: 7-12