ASSESSMENT OF ADOPTION OF INNOVATIONS BY ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN YEWA NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed adoption of innovations by arable crop farmers in Yewa North Local Government
Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. A total of 150 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed
through structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution tables,
means and percentages were used in analyzing the data while chi-square analysis was used in testing
the hypotheses. The results revealed that the average age of respondents was 48 years and 50.0%of the
respondents had secondary education. About 84.0% were males, 57.3% were married and 62.0% were
Muslims. About 74.4% had household size more than10 members and 59.2% had more than 20 years
of farming experience.78.0% had farm size of less than 5 hectares. Findings also showed that 48.0%
were full time farmers, 36.7% sourced finance for farming activities through personal savings, 32.0%
had access to cooperative loans for agricultural production and 79.7% were aware of extension
agents` activities. Results further revealed that respondents had favourable perception towards
extension activities and farmers` adoption was high. Chi-square analysis showed that there were
positively significant relationships between performance of extension agents`activities and socioeconomic
characteristics of respondents such as sex (÷2 =15.61); marital status (÷2 =8.08); education (÷2
=17.74) and farm size (÷2=3.69)andextent of adoption.(÷2=77.78).Government assistance to farmers
was recommended by way of making improved agricultural inputs available at subsidized cost to
farmers.