Abstract
In Sierra Leone cassava plays a major role in households’ food and income security. Plant breeders have concentrated on improved varieties with an increasing yields per unit area. This study was designed to identify factors that influence adoption or rejection of improved cassava cultivars by growers. Data were collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions and field walks; locations were selected using multistage stratified random sampling. Logistic regression was used to model uptake of improved varieties. Most farmers usually grow several cultivars and just over half have included an improved variety. Of the six improved varieties released in 2005 by the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute, only SLICASS 4, was widely adopted and three were not recorded in the study. Preferred characteristics are; high yield, sweet taste, early maturity and good cooking quality. Cultivars are more likely to be adopted where; cassava is a major crop, households are experienced in cultivating cassava, they have access to research, contact with extension agents and access to cassava markets. Improved cultivars are less likely to be adopted by small households with few resources. Cassava breeders should recognize what farmers find desirable but success will depend on; communicating research, having active extension agents and good access to markets. Key words: Adoption, improved varieties, cassava, Sierra Leone.
Highlights
Sierra Leone is the second largest cassava producer in the Mano River Union region of West Africa that includes other countries like Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire
Data were collected using computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) method using android tablets on; (i) the SLICASS varieties cultivated by the household, (ii) socioeconomic characteristics, and (iii) farmer’s access to agricultural services The sample size was determined based on Cochran’s formula (Cochran, 1977) for infinite population
Access to research outputs and activities, contacts with extension agents and access to markets significantly influenced the adoption of improved cassava varieties, while in the southern region, it was age, cassava as the main crop cultivated by the household, experience in growing cassava and access to markets
Summary
Sierra Leone is the second largest cassava producer in the Mano River Union region of West Africa that includes other countries like Guinea, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. Several notable factors include; marital status, the farm size, the type of farmer, the education level, the contact with extension services, the farming experience, the cropping systems, the volume of production, access to processing facilities, access to credit, presence of non-farm incomes, and the existence of a market for the sale of products (Da Encarnação and Zwane, 2020; Mende et al, 2015; Ojo and Ogunyemi, 2014; Prager and Posthumus, 2010; Prokopy et al, 2008) It has been observed over the years, the poor uptake of improved cassava varieties by farmers despite the perceived benefits of higher yield and low susceptibility to pests and diseases. The released in 2005 in the major cassava growing districts within Sierra Leone
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