FACTORS INFLUENCING THE UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION TECHNOLOGIES BY YAM FARMERS IN YAKURR LGA OF CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

This paper investigated factors influencing the utilization of agricultural extension technologies by yam farmers in Yakurr Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select one hundred and fifty yam farmers from five wards (strata) in Yakurr LGA. Primary data were gathered through the use of a structured questionnaire and an oral interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and Likert scale rating technique were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that 74% of yam farmers were male, 80% were below 50 years, 72% were married, 72% inherited the land used for farming, 70% cultivated between 3.1-4.0 hectares of farm land and 98% belonged to one social group or the other. The most widely used agricultural extension technologies in the study area were manual labour (62%) for land clearing, mounds (80%) for land preparation, minisett technique (81%) for planting material, mixed cropping (51%) for yam cultivation, farmyard manure (80%) for organic fertilizer, dry grasses (66%) for mulching, bamboo(82%) for staking of yam and barns (64%) for storage. The results of the Likert scale analysis showed that, level of education, social status, gender difference and land tenure system practiced were the factors that significantly influenced yam farmers’ utilization of agricultural extension technologies in the study area. The study recommends that, to ensure a larger number of yam farmers’ utilization of agricultural extension technologies; extension agents must make use of social groups in disseminating innovations to yam farmers.