The relationship between farmers’ attitude towards the improved cassava processing technology and adoption (Published)
This paper discusses the relationship between farmers’ attitude towards improved cassava processing technology and its adoption. About 360 participants [181 (50.3%) males and 178 (49.7%) females], strategically selected from Serengeti, Sengerema and Biharamulo districts in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions respectively in Tanzania responded questions on both attitude towards cassava processing technology and adoption of the same. Chi-square test indicated farmers’ difference in two components of adoption (involvement in pre-processing tasks and utilization of the cassava processed products) with two components (instrumental attitude and cognitive attitude) of attitude towards improved cassava processing technology. Further, direct logistic regression analysis indicated that attitude was not the only and sufficient variable uniquely explaining adoption of improved cassava processing technology despite having an influence on the same. Other variables such as attendance to training in improved cassava processing technology and intention to adopt the technology also uniquely explained adoption of improved cassava processing technology.
Keywords: adoption of agriculture technologies, attitude, attitude and adoption, cognitive attitude, instrumental attitude
The Relationship between Farmers’ Attitude towards the Improved Cassava Processing Technology and Adoption (Published)
This paper discusses the relationship between farmers’ attitude towards improved cassava processing technology and its adoption. About 360 participants [181 (50.3%) males and 178 (49.7%) females], strategically selected from Serengeti, Sengerema and Biharamulo districts in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions respectively in Tanzania responded questions on both attitude towards cassava processing technology and adoption of the same. Chi-square test indicated farmers’ difference in two components of adoption (involvement in pre-processing tasks and utilization of the cassava processed products) with two components (instrumental attitude and cognitive attitude) of attitude towards improved cassava processing technology. Further, direct logistic regression analysis indicated that attitude was not the only and sufficient variable uniquely explaining adoption of improved cassava processing technology despite having an influence on the same. Other variables such as attendance to training in improved cassava processing technology and intention to adopt the technology also uniquely explained adoption of improved cassava processing technology.
Keywords: Adoption, adoption of agriculture technologies, attitude, cognitive attitude, instrumental attitude
Attitude of Farmers towards Quality Declared Seed Production in Kilombero District, Morogoro, Tanzania (Published)
This paper assesses the attitude of farmers towards Quality Declared Seed (QDS) use in Kilombero District, Tanzania. Using data gathered through household survey from about 100 sample households of randomly selected villages from Kilombero District. Specifically, the paper answered the question on what are the attitude of farmers towards Quality Declared Seed (QDS) use in Tanzania. A cross-sectional research design was used, whereby a questionnaire was administered to 100 farmers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also conducted to allow triangulation of data. while, qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Attitude was measured against 18 statements regarding attitude of respondents towards QDS following five-point Likert scale. The result show that majority of farmers had positive attitude towards the effectiveness of QDS. High technology cost in using QDS was found to be one of the barriers for many farmers to use QDS. To achieve increased production in rice QDS, the government should create mechanisms to improve access of farmers to QDS. Microfinance institutions and rural banks should be encouraged to reduce some of their restrictions to access to credit with emphasis on the complex and tiresome form filling procedures which discourage the majority of farmers from patronizing their products. More attention should be paid to access agriculture information and technology, improving extension advisory services, and then advising farmers on how to access information through the radio, television and the mobile phone platforms.
Keywords: adoptions, attitude, quality declared seed
The Relationship between Farmers’ Attitude towards the Improved Cassava Processing Technology and Adoption (Published)
This paper discusses the relationship between farmers’ attitude towards improved cassava processing technology and its adoption. About 360 participants [181 (50.3%) males and 178 (49.7%) females], strategically selected from Serengeti, Sengerema and Biharamulo districts in Mara, Mwanza and Kagera regions respectively in Tanzania responded questions on both attitude towards cassava processing technology and adoption of the same. Chi-square test indicated farmers’ difference in two components of adoption (involvement in pre-processing tasks and utilization of the cassava processed products) with two components (instrumental attitude and cognitive attitude) of attitude towards improved cassava processing technology. Further, direct logistic regression analysis indicated that attitude was not the only and sufficient variable uniquely explaining adoption of improved cassava processing technology despite having an influence on the same. Other variables such as attendance to training in improved cassava processing technology and intention to adopt the technology also uniquely explained adoption of improved cassava processing technology.
Keywords: adoption of agriculture technologies, attitude, attitude and adoption, cognitive attitude, instrumental attitude
Comparative Assessment of Cocoa Farmers’ Knowledge and Attitude to Trainings on Good Cultural Management Practices (CMP) in Ogun and Ondo States, Nigeria (Published)
Nigeria is one of the leading cocoa producing countries in West Africa. However, since the discovery of crude oil there has been a decline in cocoa production which resulted in Nigeria losing its leading position as the foremost cocoa exporter to Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. To revitalize the cocoa production in Nigeria series of efforts are put in place including training of farmers on improved Cultural Management Practices (CMP). This study therefore compared cocoa farmers’ knowledge and attitude to trainings on good cultural management practices in Ogun and Ondo States, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used to select 320 cocoa farmers in the study areas. Data obtained were analysed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Result of the study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 52.8 years with 83.4% of the respondents married and 75.9% of the respondents had primary education. Most (82.8%) of the respondents were male while few (17.2%) were female in cocoa production. Most (83.40%) of the respondents harvested about 10kg/ha from their cocoa farms. The average income generated from cocoa was ₦44,237/kg. Cocoa farmers always got information from Cocoa Certification Agencies (59.4%), cocoa farmers association (54.4%) and radio/television (50.9%). Most (92.5%) of the respondents had wealth of knowledge in selecting suitable site for cocoa production and minimum tillage practices (98.4%). The result further revealed that majority (65.3%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they would spend more money to participate in future CMP trainings and that the training is beneficial (84.1%) hence, satisfied with it (86.2%). All the respondents affirmed that CMP training is an eye opener to a better cocoa farming practices (100%). Also, almost all the respondents (99.4%) reported that they select suitable land for cocoa production, construct nursery bed, select improved seeds variety, and slash weeds underneath cocoa trees. Above ninety percent of cocoa farmers apply fertilizer at rate of 375kg/ha, spray prescribed insecticides and fungicides, and harvest ripe cocoa pods with sharp cutlasses. Major constraints to cocoa production and CMP in the study areas are poor feeder roads (100%), irregular supply of agro-inputs (90.0%), and instability in government policy (88.4%). Result of linear regression showed a significant relationship between socio-economic and cultural management practices at p < 0.05 level of significance. However, result of the t-test analysis indicated that significant difference did not exist in the cocoa cultural management practices in Ogun and Ondo States (t = 2.42, p = 0.06). The study concludes that majority of the cocoa farmers carried out Cultural Management Practices to obtain good yield, and has positive attitude towards CMP trainings as it is highly beneficial to their cocoa farming.
Keywords: Cocoa, Cultural Management Practices, Farmers, Knowledge, Trainings, attitude