Utilization Of Yam Minisett Technology Among Farmers In Delta North Agricultural Zone Of Delta State, Nigeria

This paper examined the utilization of minisett technology among farmers in Delta North Agricultural Zone of Delta State, Nigeria. Two local government areas were purposively sampled based on their outstanding involvement in yam production. Two communities were also purposively selected from the area from where 50 respondents were randomly sampled for the study. Data were collected with use of structured interview schedule and analyzed with descriptive statistics as well as probit model statistics. Result of the study revealed an R2 value of 0.65 indicating that 65% of variation in the utilization of the technology was accounted for by the variables under consideration in this study. Specifically farmers' sex, educational status, membership of cooperative societies as well as purpose of seed yam production were positively related to utilization of the yam minisett technology in the study area. It is therefore recommended that Extension agents should assist the farmers to join cooperative societies. This will enable them have easy access to the credits, farm inputs and their technical information normally made available to such cooperative societies. Again, formation of young farmers' club in the area will go a long way in capturing and sustaining interest of youths in farming and yam production in particular. Yam production is labour intensive, labour required for such enterprise is more available with the youths hence the need for their involvement. Furthermore, women folks should also be encouraged to participate in seed yam production through having access to the minisett technology as well as other essential factors of production Keywords: utilization, yam minisett technology, farmersGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 92-9