UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY BY FARMERS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Agricultural technology is playing significant roles in enhancing productivity, especially in the current situation where food demand surpasses production capacity and Northwest, Nigeria in particular. The study focused on the Utilization of Agricultural Innovative Technology by Farmers for Sustainable Food Production in Nigeria. Three (3) research questions and hypothesis guided the study. A survey research design was used for the study. The sample size for the study was 225 comprising of 75 Extension Agents, 75 Agricultural Education lecturers and 75 farmers. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting five State and two Local Government Areas from each of the State including respondents based on their strength and level of food production within the States. 33 items questionnaires covering personal information of the respondents and Utilization of Agricultural Innovative Technology by Farmers was utilized for data collection. The questionnaire was face validated by experts and was administered on respondents with the help of 10 research assistants. The data generated were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for answering the research questions, while t-test statistics was used to test the hypothesis of no significant difference at relevant degree of freedom. The findings of the study revealed a generally low level of awareness and utilization of agricultural innovative technologies by farmers as well as facing numerous challenges such as inability of the rural farmers to keep abreast of technological development due to lack of ability and/or financial resources among others. On the hypothesis tested, it was revealed that there were no significant differences on the responses of Agricultural Extension Agents and Farmers on hypotheses 1and 2 but there was a significant difference on hypothesis 3 tested as the responses of Agricultural Extension Agents and that of Agricultural Education Lecturers on the strategies for enhancing the utilization of agricultural innovative technologies by farmers are significantly different from one another. The study recommended strategies for overcoming these challenges among which includes Agriculture technologist and policymakers should play key role in the distribution and or application of innovative technologies for immediate take-up and development agencies should foster the effectiveness of innovative interventions and take into account of existing technologies for smooth transition and adoption by farmers in Northwest, Nigeria.

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