EFFECT OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ON INCOME OF CASSAVA AND MAIZE FARMERS IN EGBA DIVISION OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

^*Ambali O. I., Ologbon O.A.C. and Akerele, E.O.

Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management

Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro, Ogun State

E-mail:everlastingamtoyo@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT

Agricultural technology/innovation has been viewed to face 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 Egba Division of Ogun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to collect primary data from 160 farmers used for the study. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary technique, multiple regression and probit model. 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 revealed that improved technology adopters earned more income than the traditional technology adopters. The multiple regression 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 model identifies the determinants of improved technology adoption to include age, household size, education, farm size, farming experience, extension contact and farm income. Policy option requires the traditional technology adopters to 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 improved technology.

Keywords: agricultural technology, Farmers, Income, Nigeria