ABSTRACT
With regards to the important role that cassava plays in the economy of Delta State and Nigeria as a whole, there is a need to intensify efforts to improve its production both in quantity and quality and despite the existence of relevant information to increase agricultural productivity, many farmers are yet to receive such information due to an inadequate access of the farmers to extension services, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria. However, there are several moves by various government to improve extension services in the country. Hence this study was carried out to assess the effect of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) Communication channels in the production of Cassava in Ika – South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria.
A multistage sampling technique was adopted in randomly selecting 80 respondents from five Local Government Areas with high concentration of cassava farmers in Ika – South LGA in Delta State. Data was analyzed using frequency count, percentages, and mean scores while hypothesis was tested using Logistic regression.
Results showed that majority (58.3%%) were female and between 40 – 60 years old, (70.4%) were married, (93.3%) literate, with (48.3%) having farm experiences between 10 – 15 years. The mean house household size was 6 members, with the major (48.3%) source of labour being hired and well augmented by family (35.0%). The annual income was within the range of ₦100,000-₦200,000 with a mean of ₦179,166.90k. Farmers had high access to friends and neighbours ( = 3.71), farm/home visits ( = 3.71), meetings ( = 3.71), lectures ( = 3.71), and demonstrations ( = 3.71). Majority of the respondents (55.2%) perceive the communication methods of ADP as highly effective and household sizes (b = 1.20; odd ratio = 3.31; p≥0.050) and labour source (b = 1.76; odd ratio = 5.82; p≤ 0.010) were found to significantly influence the perception of ADP communication channels as effective on cassava farming among the other variables. Some of the constraints that significantly limit cassava farmers in the study area in adoption of technologies were inadequate extension contact ( = 3.71), lack of funds ( = 3.58), inadequate understanding of farmers needs and problems ( = 2.93), inadequate input ( = 2.74), and inadequate extension visits ( = 2.71). It was therefore recommended that the extension services in the Ika-South LGA and Delta State needs to be empowered in terms of manpower and funds to effectively reach out to the farmers and create awareness for better dissemination of improved cassava technologies.
