Effects of Agricultural Technology on Income of Cassava and Maize Farmers in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Agricultural technology/innovation over the years has faced challenges from both the policy makers and the farmers. This study examined the effect of agricultural technology on the income of cassava and maize farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from one hundred and sixty (160) farmers. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique and multiple regressions. The study revealed that the improved technology adopters are more educated and cultivated more land than the traditional technology users. The traditional technology adopters are older and more experienced in farming than the improved technology adopters. The budgetary analysis earned more income than the traditional result showed that increase in farm size and labour inputs will lead to increase in net farm income; while additional unit cost of planting material will decrease the net farm income. The probit mode identifies the determinants of improved technology adoption to include age, household, size, education, farm size, farming experience, extension contact and farm income. It is recommended that traditional technology adopter should adopt the improved agricultural technologies in order to increase the income per unit of land cultivated. Also, there is need for improvement in the education of the traditional technology adopters as a panacea for adopting improver technology.