Comparative Analysis of the Adoption of Leafy Vegetable Technologies Among Vegetables Farmers in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, Nigeria

The aim was carried out a comparative study on the adoption of leafy vegetable technologies among vegetables farmers in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from, 372 male and female leafy vegetable farmers from 18 Local Government Areas using the quota sampling procedure. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, tables, mean scores, standard deviation and ANOVA surveyed. Fluted pumpkin (92%) and water leaf (86.3%) were predominant crops. The available technologies in both states are: fertilizer/organic manure application using Inorganic fertilizer (NPK), improved planting material seedling on fluted pumpkin, field preparation using check basin method and preservation/storage procedure using sorting out diseased and bruised produce as they ranked 1st position. This was closely followed by planting distance for Fluted pumpkin (90X90 cm), harvesting and use of well-ventilated containers such as smooth basket as they ranked second position. Organic fertilizer (compost) exhibited higher adoption (mean score = 3.95) than inorganic fertilizer (NPK) (Mean score = 3.22). The t-test did not find a statistically significant difference in the types of vegetable cultivated, agricultural technologies on leafy vegetable available and leafy vegetable technologies adopted by vegetable farmers between the two states at probability value at 0.05 significant level.