Title
page i
Declaration ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgments v
Table
of Contents vi
List
of Tables ix
List
of figures x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Information 1
1.2 Problem Statement 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study 6
1.4
Hypotheses of the Study 7
1.5 Justification
of the Study 7
1.6 Scope
and limitations of the Study 8
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Origin
and Spread of Cocoyam 10
2.1.2 Ecology/cultivars
of cocoyam 10
2.2 Economic
Importance of Cocoyam 11
2.2.1 Nutritional values of cocoyam 12
2.3 Empirical
Findings on the Socio-economic Characteristics of Farmers 16
2.4 Socio-economic
Characteristics of Cocoyam Farmers in Anambra State 18
2.4.1 Sex 19
2.4.2 Age 19
2.4.3 Household
size 20
2.4.4 Education
21
2.4.5 Membership
of social organizations 22
2.5 Awareness
of Technological Innovation 22
2.6 Concept
of Technology 23
2.7 The Concept of Perception 25
2.7.1 Farmers’ perception of technologies 27
2.8 Factors
Influencing Farmers’ Decision to Use Improved Technologies 28
2.9 Meaning of Innovation 31
2.9.1 The innovation decision process 32
2.10 Improved Cocoyam Production Technologies 33
2.10.1 Method of fertilizer application 34
2.11 Reasons
for Farmers’ Acceptance and Non-acceptance of Farm Technologies 36
2.12 Constraints
to Farmers’ Use of Improved Cocoyam Production Technology 39
2.12.1 Social change theory 41
2.12.2 Adoption and diffusion perspectives 42
2.13 Conceptual Framework 43
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 The
Study Area 46
3.2 Sample
and Sampling Procedure 47
3.3 Method
of Data Collection 48
3.4 Standardization
of Instrument 49
3.5 Measurement
of Variables 50
3.5 Method
of Data Analysis 52
CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Socio-economic Characteristics of the
Respondents 55
4.2 Distribution
of the Respondents based on the Awareness of Improved
Cocoyam Production Technologies 59
4.3 Distribution
according to Rural Farmers’ Use of Improved Cocoyam
Production Technologies 61
4.4 Sources
of Information on Improved Cocoyam Production Technologies
among Farmers 62
4.5 Mean Response of Rural Farmers’ Extent of
Use of Improved Cocoyam
Production
Practices 63
4.6 Mean Response of Rural Farmers’
Perception of Improved Cocoyam Production 64
4.7 Distribution
of Respondents according to Farmers Perceived Constraints 66
4.8 Socio-Economic
Determinants of Farmers’ Use of Improved Cocoyam
Production Technologies 68
4.9 Ordinary
Least Square Regression Table of the test of relationship
between farmers’ perception and the use of
improved cocoyam technology 72
CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
73
5.2 Conclusion
74
5.3 Recommendations
75
References 76
Appendices 85
LIST
OF TABLES
3.1 Population of the Study 48
4.1 Socio-economic characteristics of the
respondents 55
4.2 Distribution
of the respondents based on the awareness of improved
cocoyam production technologies 59
4.3 Distribution
according to rural farmers’ use of improved cocoyam
production technologies 61
4.4 Sources
of information on improved cocoyam production technologies
among farmers 62
4.5 Mean response of rural farmers’ extent of
use of improved cocoyam
production
practices 63
4.6 Mean response of rural farmers’
perception of improved cocoyam production 64
4.7 Distribution
of respondents according to farmers perceived constraints 66
4.8 Socio-economic
determinants of farmers’ use of improved cocoyam
production technologies 68
4.9 Ordinary
least square regression table of the test of relationship
between farmers’ perception and the use of
improved cocoyam technology 72
LIST
OF FIGURES
2.1 Conceptual framework showing the effect
of utilization of
improved cocoyam technologies by women
farmers in Anambra State 45
3.1 Map
of Anambra State showing the 21 local government areas and
their headquarters 47
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Cocoyam
(Xanthosoma) originated from Asia and
about forty (40) species are mostly grown in West Africa (Asumugha and
Mbanasor, 2002). Cocoyam, both Xanthosoma
species and Colocasia species belong
to the family (Aracea). The cocoyam specie Colocasia
esculata in sub-Sahara Africa was introduced to this continent one thousand or
more years ago from South East Asia while cocoyam specie Xanthosoma mafafa was introduced more recently from tropical
America (11TA, 1992; FAO, 2005a).
Nigeria
is the largest producer of cocoyam in the world, accounting for about 37% of
the total world output (FAO, 2007b; NRCRI, 2009). From 0.73 million metric tons
in 1990, cocoyam production in Nigeria rose to 3.89 million metric tons in 2000
(Ojiako et al., 2007) and further by
30.30% to 5.068 million metric tons in 2007 (FAO, 2007b). Further estimate in
Nigeria, showed a figure of 5,387 million metric tons out of 11.77 million
metric tons of world output of cocoyam per annum since 2008 (FAO STAT, 2010). Agriculture
has been an important sector in the Nigerian economy for the past decades and
still a major sector despite the oil boom (Central Bank of Nigeria, 2014). The
sector remains a family enterprise in Nigeria, as farmers are involved in one
way or the other in the agricultural production practices.
Basically,
it provides employment opportunities for the teeming population, reduces
poverty and contributes to the growth of the economy. Also, agricultural
production is largely in the hands of resources-poor farmers and the
characteristics of these farmers predispose them to low productivity (Adeniji,
2002). The problem of inadequate production, low food and raw materials supply
led to innovation of improved technologies in order to improve production and
living standard of farmers. Implications raised by this is that, concerted
efforts by everybody that has potential contribution towards agricultural
development process is required if Nigeria is to make a realistic and positive
step. This is because, majority of the farmers‟ population in Nigeria depend
entirely on farming activities for survival and generation of income or depend
on these activities to supplement their main sources of income.
Productive
gains in farming activities should be utilized for economic development. The
non-availability or inadequate use of modern agricultural technologies followed
by low resource endowment of the poor farmers has made Nigerian agriculture to
remain rudimentary and traditional (Adeniji, 2002). Any crucial development
policy aimed at poverty alleviation should concentrate on farming which is the
main occupation of the poor because, the nation’s agricultural potentials are
far from being fully realized and this has serious implications on food
security and sustainable economic development. The underdevelopment of
agriculture is indeed worrisome, given the fact that Nigeria is naturally and
agriculturally endowed. In spite of the various food crop production programmes
embarked upon by the Federal government of Nigeria, there has been growing
concern about the capability of Nigerian agriculture to satisfy the food
requirement of a fast-growing population (International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture, 2013) and to provide enough raw materials for the agro-based
industries.
Emphasis
therefore, is placed on production of root and tuber crops like cocoyam, which
has the potentials of alleviating poverty by improving the income earning
capacity and food security of farmers in Nigeria. Root and tuber crops are
among the most important groups of staple foods in many tropical African
countries which constitute the largest source of calories for the Nigeria
population (Olaniyan et al., 2013).
Among the root crops, cocoyam is the next in importance after cassava and yam
before sweet potato (National Root Crops Research Institute, 2012). Nigeria,
Ghana and Japan are the world’s leading producers of cocoyam (Ogunniyi, 2008;
Food and Agriculture Organization, 2014).
The two varieties of cocoyam that are mainly produced
in Nigeria according to Obiora and Ajala (2014) and NRCRI (2012) are Colocasia
esculenta otherwise known as “taro” and Xanthosoma saggittifolium also
known as “tannia”. Both are members of Araceae family. Specifically, the
two (Xanthosoma sagittifolium and Colocasia esculenta) varieties
of cocoyam are cultivated in Southern Nigeria. Although, many different
cultivars of each of these varieties exist in the zone, some of these cultivars
are grown under different local names in different parts of the zone. In
Anambra State for instance, both varieties are preferred but, in Cross River
and Delta States, Xanthosoma is preferred to Colocasia (Okoye et
al., 2012).
Cocoyam is most widely grown in both western and
eastern regions of Nigeria in terms of area cultivated and number of producers.
It is not only a major source of food but also income generating crop,
especially in the rural areas (Ogunniyi, 2008). Cocoyam grows in association
with other food and tree crops, a system mostly practiced by subsistence
farmers in Nigeria. There was a decline in the yields of cocoyam in the past
few years as reported by National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison
Services in 2011. This was due to the inadequacy of facilities of storage and
transport which made it difficult to market fresh cocoyam at long distance from
the place where it was grown. In practice therefore, reasonable cocoyam
harvesting takes place between November and March/April, but the poor storage
facilities, insufficient planting materials, weeds problem and poor soil result
to low productivity in cocoyam (FAO, 2011).
National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and
extension agencies provided research-based information on improved cocoyam
production practices. The efforts have been supported with the use of extension
publications. The improved cocoyam production practices that have been
developed and transferred to farmers over time which the research examined are
cocoyam intercropping technique, cocoyam mini setts technique, method of
fertilizer application, plant spacing, planting depth (15 – 20cm deep), weed
control method, mulching, pest control, time of planting and harvesting method
(NRCRI, 2013). The study was undertaken to investigate whether the rural women
farmers of Anambra State were actually aware of the improved cocoyam
technologies and if they were aware to ascertain whether these technologies had
actually been used by these women and the level of the usage.
1.2 PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Food security is known to be
critical to human development, however, Nigeria is not food secure (Adepoju and
Awodunmuyila 2008). Little wonder therefore, that the clarion call to achieve
food security in Nigeria has attracted a pitiable urgent attention for a state
of emergency in the Nigerian food industry. This has generated increased
interest in research, production, marketing, and consumption of cocoyam which
is one major staple food among rural and urban dwellers (Okoye, Asumgha and Mbanaso,
2006). Cocoyam is not commonly found in most markets
like other root and tuber crops such as cassava, yam and sweet potato. Besides,
cocoyam is regarded as a crop mainly for the poor and has played a very minor
role in international trade. As noted by Zubair and Hunter (2000), the
cultivation of cocoyam is not encouraging as the yield per hectare is still
low. One of the reasons for the low yield may not be unconnected to dismal and
little attention farmers give to cocoyam when compared with cassava and yam
that are close substitute root/tuber crops.
According to NRCRI (2003),
the ignorance of the nutritive value and diversities of the food forms from
cocoyam by a large percentage of the populace is a major limiting factor to
general acceptability and extensive production of the crop. Expansion in
cocoyam production has the potential of bridging the widening demand and supply
gap for the product, and enhancing the income and standard of living of the
farmers, particularly the vulnerable group (Amusa et al., 2011). As population pressure on land continues to
increase, the importance of cocoyam in ensuring household food security should
be given adequate recognition, and efforts to increase production of the crop
through encouraging the adoption of modern production strategies and mitigation
of production constraints such as climate change, drought, poor cultural
practices among cocoyam growers, pest and disease infestations and lagging
interest of youths in agriculture (Sagoe, 2006; Onwubuya and Ajani, 2012) must
be stepped up.
This misconception has
lingered for so long because of lack of appreciation of the number of people
who depend on this crop and the number of lives that have been saved during
famine or disasters by the crop. Also, very little research attention has been
given to it occasioning knowledge gap for policies and programmes. As a result,
the production of cocoyam in Nigeria can gradually go into extinction if
adequate measures are not urgently put in place to arrest this ugly situation. This
study which analyzed the effect of utilization of improved cocoyam production technologies
on the output and income of women farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria was
undertaken to address the following research questions:
i.
What are the socio-economic characteristics of rural
cocoyam farmers in Anambra state, Nigeria?
ii.
Are the rural farmers’ aware of improved cocoyam
production technologies?
iii.
What are the improved cocoyam production technologies
used by rural farmers?
iv.
What are the sources of information on the improved
cocoyam production technologies to farmers?
v.
What is the extent of rural farmers’ use of improved
cocoyam production technologies?
vi.
What is the rural farmers’ perception of improved
cocoyam production technologies?
vii.
What are the constraints to rural farmers’ use of
improved production technologies?
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of this study is to analyze the effects
of improved cocoyam technologies by women farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria.
The specific objectives were to:
i.
describe the socio-economic characteristics of the
famers in the study area;
ii.
ascertain the rural farmers’ awareness of improved
cocoyam production technologies;
iii.
identify the improved cocoyam production technologies
used by the farmers;
iv.
identify sources of information on the improved
cocoyam production technologies among cocoyam farmers;
v.
determine the extent of rural farmers’ use of
improved cocoyam production technologies;
vi.
determine the rural farmers’ perception of improved
cocoyam production technologies and
vii.
identify the constraints to rural farmers’ use of
improved cocoyam production technologies.
1.5 HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
Ho1: Socio-economic characteristics of cocoyam
farmers do not significantly influence the use of improved cocoyam production technologies.
Ho2: There
is no significant difference between the farmers’ perceptions of improved
production cocoyam technologies and their use
1.5 JUSTIFICATION
OF THE STUDY
Most
of the scholars who wrote on cocoyam concentrated on marketing and profit
efficiency of cocoyam (Adepoju and Awodunmuyila, 2008). Also, in most markets
in the state, it is always noticeable that cocoyam featured least among other
root and tuber crops (yam, cassava and sweet potato) and by looking through
past researches on root and tuber crops, cocoyam has received the least
research attention, therefore, this study would provide an understanding of the
farmers’ attitude towards the crop in Anambra State, in terms of improved
production practices. It will also help to explain how the improved cocoyam
production technologies have been spread among the rural farmers of Anambra
state, Nigeria. It would help the rural farmers to know the significance of
using improved cocoyam production technologies and also assist them to improve
their cocoyam production and income level.
The
study would also be useful to the government of Nigeria, as a basis for
rational and empirical policy formulation for cocoyam production in the
country. Similarly, research institutes would be provided with the basic
information on the constraints to farmers’ use of improved cocoyam production technologies
by identifying problem areas for improvements. This study would reveal numerous
nutritional benefits of cocoyam to consumers and producers thereby, making the
crop acceptable in local and international markets. Finally, it is hoped that
this work would be of assistance to future researchers who may identify other
areas of cocoyam farming for further studies.
1.6 SCOPE
AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The
study covered all the agricultural zone in Anambra State. The study analyzed
the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers among which are age,
educational level, household size, membership of social organization, farm size
and farming experience. Other variables include extension visits to farmers, credit
obtained, marital status and sex. The scope of the study also covered farmers’
awareness, perception, types of practices used and extent of use of improved
cocoyam production technologies by farmers and among others.
The study is limited to
Anambra State of Nigeria. The researcher faced the challenge of transportation
to the rural farmers in other to administer the questionnaire and the challenge
of the unfriendly attitude of the ADP Staff during the gathering of data.
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