Assessment of Transfer of Cocoyam Technologies in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Agricultural transformation can be achieved in Nigeria in the presence of an effective, well-designed and well executed system of technology development and transfer. Multistage random sampling procedure was employed to select a sample of 36 EAs from the population of all Extension Agents (EAs) in Anambra State Agricultural Development Project (ADP). Research data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire while data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, percentage, ranks) and inferential statistics (multiple regression analysis). The results of data analyses revealed low percentage of young Extension Agents and low percentage of female EAs. A few academically unqualified EAs were on the roll of Anambra State ADP. The transfer of cocoyam technologies in the State has exceeded 73% of its target even as 17 out of 23 cocoyam technologies under study have been transferred to farmers. The major constraints to cocoyam technologies transfer relates to poor conditions of service for EAs, lack field vehicles, poor funding of extension activities, rejection of technologies by farmers on the basis of incompatibility of technologies to farmers’ local practices, inadequate number EAs and poor linkage among Research/Extension/ Farmer/Input Agencies. It was recommended that vigorous efforts be put in place to transfer 6 other cocoyam technologies which were yet to be transferred to the farmers. Also, more young and female EAs should be recruited. The conditions of service of EAs should be improved and that the ideal Training and Visit system of agricultural extension be implemented while research adapt cocoyam technologies to farmers’ local conditions and practices.