T. Nwaneri

The present study was aimed at addressing the problems of adoption of improved production technologies of cocoyam from socioeconomic point of view. This research was indispensable especially now that this crop is facing possible extinction in South East and other zones of the country where it serves as staple food and as well a cash crop. Purposive and multi stage random sampling techniques were used to select 120 farmers for the detailed study. Data, comprising information on the farmers' socio – economic characteristics and other quantitative variables relevant to the study were collected using well structured questionnaire and personal interview. Descriptive statistics such as percentage response was used to address the farmers' socio – economic characteristics and constraints to cocoyam production respectively, while the extent of adoption was captured using Tobit model analysis. The result shows that extension visit, cooperative membership; off farm income and educational level were the major determinants of extent of technology adoption of cocoyam in the study area. More so, the results revealed that the major constrains to the production of cocoyam were poor access to credit, high cost of labour, high cost of fertilizer and high cost of planting materials. Policies options aimed at increasing farmers' access to fertilizer, educational programmes such as adult education, cooperative membership and extension contacts were proffered.

The study analysed the position of the farmers in Ayamelum L.G.A. of Anambra State in the adoption of improved herbicide spraying technique. A total of one hundred (100) herbicide sprayers were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique for the detailed study. Data for the study were generated through the use of structured questionnaire and oral interview during the 2010-2011 cropping season. Descriptive statistics such as percentage was used to determine the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers and constraints to their adoption of herbicide spraying technique. Logit analytical model was used to determine the levels of farmers' adoption of the technology. The major findings of the study indicated that farmers had positive attitude towards adoption. The result further revealed that income, educational level, membership of cooperative societies/organization and extension contact were the major determinants of adoption. The major constraints to herbicide technology transfer were; poor extension contact, inadequate fund and low literary level of the respondents. Considering the impact of the aforementioned variables on the Original Research Article