Analysis of adoption of small ruminants’ innovations among small-scale farmers in apa local government area of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed adoption of small ruminant innovations among small-scale farmers in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire administered on 119 respondents selected randomly from five out of eleven council wards. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that farmers who were age between 21 and 40 years 58.8%, females 55.5%, married 49.6%, had household size of 16 persons and above 28.8%, those who spent 13 years in formal education were 50.4%, those who had experience of less than 10 years in rearing ruminants animals 55.5%, number of animals reared were between 11 and 30 38.7% and for major occupation 37% were farmers. Results on sources of information indicated that radio 26.1%, one of the innovations introduced was deworming 41.2%, innovations adopted 32.8% and problems encountered was lack of veterinary clinic and doctors in the villages 33.6%. It was recommended that veterinary clinics should be located at strategic points in the villages and veterinary doctors posted to it and water should also be provided to the farmers especially during the dry season.