CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION AND UTILIZATION OF CASSAVA PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG FARMERS IN IMO STAE, NIGERIA

The study analyzed cassava farmers' adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies in Imo State, Nigeria. Purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques were used to select one hundred and twenty (120) cassava farmers. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics such as: frequency counts, mean scores and percentages. The result revealed that 60% of the respondents were males, with mean ages of 51.2 years, 35% acquired secondary education, mean farming experience of 26.7 years, mean annual farm income of (sic)278, 275.00 and extension contact ((X) over bar= 2.2) times in a month. Result reveals that farmers adopted cassava agronomic practices as; improved cassava cuttings ((X) over bar =4.7), ridge/mound making technologies practices ((X) over bar= 4.6), site selection /land clearing and weeding interval technologies ((X) over bar= 4.3), pest and disease control ((X) over bar =4.2) and planting dates and time of harvest ((X) over bar =3.9) with a grand mean adoption score of 4.3. The farmers also adopted intercrop technologies as; cassava/maize/egusi ((X) over bar =4.3) and cassava/maize/telferia and cassava value addition ((X) over bar =4.2) with a grand mean adoption of 3.4. The levels of utilization of cassava production technologies on agronomic practices indicate that the respondents utilized site selection/land clearing and ridge/mound making ((X) over bar =2.8), improved cassava cuttings, fertilizer application and weeding technologies ((X) over bar =2.7) and pest and disease control and planting spacing ((X) over bar =2.4) with grand mean utilization score of 2.6. The farmers also utilized intercrop technologies as; cassava/maize/egusi technologies ((X) over bar =2.9), cassava value addition technologies ((X) over bar =2.5) with grand mean utilization score of 2.1. High wage rate, lack of credit, technology attributes, inadequate land and pest and diseases infestation were serious constraints affecting adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies. Increased extension contact, access on improved varieties and subsidy on farm inputs were advocated for adoption and utilization of cassava production technologies in the study area.