ADOPTION OF IMPROVED BAMBARA NUT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN OBI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
Publication Type: Journal Article.
Publication Year: 2026
Author(s): Omale P. I.; Tor L. G.; Agbo E. P., and Egbodo M. O.
Journal Name: (IJAEMD)
ABSTRACT
The research assessed adoption rates and determinants of improved Bambara nut technologies amongst 115 smallholder farmers from the Obi Local Government Area, Benue State, through a multi-stage sampling methodology. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logit regression. Findings indicated selective adoption with adoption rates being high regarding on-time planting (66.1%). Techniques on how to harvest was at 64.7%, while improved methods of post-harvest storage, like silos and neem leaf powder, were at 64.3%. For row planting and spacing, adoption rates were moderate at 53.0%. Nevertheless, adoption rates were lower at 47.0%, 40.0%, 38.3%, 37.4%, and 37.4%, taking on aspects of control of pests/preceding diseases, improved varieties, fertilizer/analysis of manure, weed control, and crop rotation/intercropping. Inferential results showed that although the overall logistic regression model was not statistically significant, farm size was the only positively significant predictor of adoption at p < .05. This indicates that resource endowment, through farm sizes, earned farmers to test novel adoption methods. Essentially, other demographic variables like age, gender, education, and income lacked overall significance. It can, therefore, be concluded that adoption was impeded by limited government interactions and resource poverty. It is, consequently, advocated that to improve rates of adoption, administration assistance through governmental interactions be strengthened, input assistance to better access improved input requirements be subsidized, and greater emphasis be placed on farmer-based groups to improve resource management on which food security in livelihoods are established.
Keywords: Adoption, Technology, Bambara nut, Production & Smallholder farmers