ASSESSMENT OF THE ADOPTION OF AGROCHEMICALS AMONG YAM FARMERS IN WUKARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the assessment of the adoption of agrochemicals among Yam farmers in Wukari Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from a purposefully selected sample of 110 yam farmers from Wukari LGA of Taraba State, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics (frequency, percentage) and inferential statistics (Anova) (F.test). The study found that, according to the socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers in the study area, a greater percentage (83% of them) fell between age ranges of less than 50 years. Male-dominated yam farming in the study area had 63%; 51% were married. 98% had one form of education or another. A greater percentage, 83%, was found to have more than 5 years of farming experience. The result indicates that the majority of the respondents depend on friends and co-farmers as their sources of information. Findings revealed that the majority were aware of the common agrochemicals used in the study area. In determining the Level of adoption of agrochemicals by yam farmers in the study area, the ANOVA model gave the best fit to the data. The result indicates that 5.433 of the F-value is positive and is significant at the 1% level of significance. It can be concluded that the maximum number of farmers in the study area were aware of agrochemicals, and there is also no significant difference in the level of adoption of agrochemicals between and within the various wards. In line with the findings of the study, the following recommendations are put forward: Since the cost of agrochemicals is high during the planting season, I recommend that farmers purchase agrochemicals before the planting season. It’s also recommended that farmers in the study area should pay for extension services so they can be taught on the need to adopt agrochemicals. Furthermore, cooperative societies should help make agrochemicals available at a subsidy rate for their members.