Strategies for Dealing with Low Adoption of Agricultural Innovations: A Case Study of Farmers in Udenu L.G.A of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study to access the level of acceptance/adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State was carried out. The aim was to find out the reasons behind the low acceptance/adoption of agricultural innovations by farmers in the area and to suggest possible strategies to address this ugly situation; as a way to increase food production amongst farmers in the study area. Hundred farmers from 5 communities in the study area and 10 staff of 2 agricultural Research Institutes were randomly selected as the major population for this study. Three (3) Alternate Hypothesis set for this study were tested using Chi-square statistical tool at 0.05 probability level of significance and at 4 degrees of freedom; and only one was rejected. Structured questionnaire and scheduled interviews were used to collect data from farmers and staff of the Research Institutes.  Result from the study showed that services of extension agents in the rural areas are inadequate and ineffective. It was also found that extension agents are faced with many challenges in their efforts to introduce new agricultural innovations to farmers; most farmers were reluctant to adopt new agricultural innovations/technologies for various reasons. Increasing the ratio of extension agents to farmers, use of indigenous extension agents and local interpreters to disseminate new innovations and technologies, training of model farmers as change agents, use of demonstration method and subsidizing agricultural inputs were recommended as strategies for encouraging acceptance/adoption of agricultural innovations and technologies by rural farmers.

Keywords: Agricultural Innovations, Extension Agents, Technologies, Adoption, Small-Scale farmers.