Assessment of Selected Socioeconomic Factors Influencing the Use of Improved Sweetpotato Production Technologies disseminated to farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed selected socioeconomic factors influencing the use of improved sweetpotato production technologies disseminated to farmers in Ebonyi State. Multi-stage sampling and proportionate methods were used to collect data for the study. Two agricultural zones, two (2) blocks, three circles were randomly selected from the blocks and finally, the farmers were selected proportionately from the circles to give a sample size of 201 sweetpotato farmers. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such percentages, mean, and simple linear regression model. The result shows that mean of age was 37.3 years, mean education was 12 years and mean of farm size was 0.6ha. Grand mean of level of use of sweetpotato production technologies was 2.68. Linear regression result showed significant effect on sex (-2.595)**, education (4.771)***, marital status 5.370***, household (2.290)**, farming experience (4.113)***, farm size (-4.542)***, and extension visitation (3.289)*** respectively. The study concluded that the farmers used the improved sweetpotato production technologies disseminated to them in production of sweetpotato in Ebonyi State. Also, there were some socioeconomic factors influencing the use of the technologies disseminated. The study therefore, recommended that male farmers need to get actively involved in cultivation of sweetpotato and to make use of its improved production technologies to increase sweetpotato production since it was found in this study that women dominated in sweetpotato farming. Also, Extension agents in Ebonyi States Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP) of should reach out to sweetpotato farmers regularly to enable them use the technologies.