Perception and Adoption Level of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato by Farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to analyze the performance of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) with respect to farmers’ perception and adoption in Anambra State, Nigeria. A multi stage sampling technique was used to elicit data for the study. Two agricultural zones of the state namely Anambra and Awka were purposively selected because of their nearness to the sub - station of National Root Crops Research Institute, Igbariam, Anambra state and intensity of sweetpotato production in the area. Structured questionnaire was used to interview the farmers. A total of 120 respondents made up the sample size for the survey. List of sweetpotato farmers collected from Igbariam sub -station served as the sample frame. Primary data used for the study were analyzed using frequency, percentages, mean, likert scale and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient model. The results showed that 40.83% of the farmers fall between the ages of 30-39years and majority of the farmers (69.16%) were females. Greater percentage of the farmers (84.17%) were married, and 52.5% of the farmers had year of schooling between 7-12 year while majority (46.1%) of the farmers had farming experience between 6-10 years. Some of the farmers (60.8%) borrowed capital for cultivation of OFSP in the area and 81.7% of the farmers cultivate on land area between 1.0ha and 1.9ha. Perception of farmers on OFSP had mean score of 3.0 and grand mean of 3.9, implying that the farmers had positive perception about OFSP while the mean score and grand mean of Level of adoption of OFSP were 2.0 and 2.56 respectively which indicated that OFSP varieties disseminated in Anambra State were adopted. The t- value of the correlation between perception and adoption of OFSP by the respondents was1.8553** and significant at 5% level. It is concluded that OFSP is performing well in the study area with indications that farmers’ had positive perception about OFSP and moderately level of adoption. It is therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to intensify efforts in the production of Orange fleshed Sweetpotato considering the benefits it offers to the consumers.