Socio-Economic Characteristics As Correlates Of Adoption Among Yam Farmers In Rural Ikwerre Areas Of Rivers State, Nigeria

This study assessed the correlation between socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and adoption of yam minisett technology. It was carried out in the Ikwerre rural areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample size of the study is made up of 252 yam farmers who were randomly sampled. Interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the use of percentages and Pearson Product- Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). Results indicate that complete adoption is as low as 18.6%. Results of the r-values of socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and adoption at 0.05 level of significance shows that age (r=-0.1149) and farming experience (r=-0.0897) were negative, very low and not significant. Income (r= 0.5540), yam farm size (r=0.5982) and extension contact (r=0.5851) gave positive, moderate and significant correlation. Education (r=0.7658) however, gave a positive, very strong and significant correlation with adoption. In view of the above results, it is recommended that extension efforts concentrated around middle age yam farmers who have higher: income, farm size, extension contact and education will yield a better adoption among yam farmers in this study areas. Keywords: Yam farmers, socio-economic characteristics, adoptionGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (2) 2006: pp. 74-8