FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE CASSAVA WEED MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY FOR CASSAVA SYSTEMS IN NIGERIA

The study was conducted to investigate the factors associated with adoption of sustainable cassava weeds management technology for cassava systems (SCWMTCS) in Nigeria. A total of 384 respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure for the study using a well-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools such as means percentages, and regression analysis. Results revealed that the mean age of respondents was 44.55 ± 10.79. the means of household size, years of formal schooling, years of farming experience, farm size and annual income were 7.3±4.69, 9.74 ± 7.30, 17.71 ± 10.33, 1.89 ± 1.99, N356,013.02 ± N1,099,998.61 respectively. Majority (65.88%) were male and the respondents were of high orientation. Among the factors that contributed to adoption of SCWMTCS included household size (β =2.05, Oyo State; β = 2.51, Abia State), income (β = 3.25, Oyo State;β = 4.14, Abia State), farm size (β = 3.98, Oyo State, β = 4.62, Abia State), frequency of farm visits (β =2.88, Benue State), external orientation (β =2.93, Oyo State, β = 1.70, Abia State) social- cultural related factors (β = 3.30, Benue State) institutional related factors (β = 3.28. Abia State, β = 5.70, Benue State). Overall regression model summary shows that R2 value of (0.276 Oyo State, 0.382 Abia State and 0.512 Benue State) was obtained in the analysis. Also, F value of (3.084 in Oyo State, 5.166 in Abia State and 7.277 in Benue State) obtained was significant at P ≤ 0.01. Thus, R2 value of (0.276 Oyo State) indicates that significant variables among the selected variables could only explain (27.6 percent Oyo State, 38.2 percent Abia State and 51.2 percent Benue State) of the variation in the level of adoption of SCWMTCS.