Yam minisett innovation utilization for improved livelihood status of farmers in Niger state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze yam mini-sett innovation utilization among farmers in Niger State Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 152 respondents for the study. Interview schedule/ questionnaire were used to elicit information from the respondents. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study revealed that the respondents were still in their active and productive age, with mean age of 38 years and large proportion (79.6%) were married with a mean household size of 8 persons. Also, majority (69.1%) had one form of formal education or the other with a mean farming experience of 27years. The major yam minisett innovation practices utilized by the respondents were recommended land preparation (2.48), recommended spacing (2.41), cutting the recommended size (2.40) and treatment of the seed yam (2.43) which ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4threspectively.The study revealed also that utilization of yam minisett innovation significantly affected farmer’s livelihood in the areas of: improvement in family food security status (X̅=4.09), increase income (X̅=4.03) improve housing and clothing (X̅=3.93) which ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The most important factors affecting the utilization of yam mini-sett innovation which showed a significant relationship were age of the farmer (2.45), household size (2.53), marital status (-3.16), extension contact (1.92), access to training (2.03), access to credit (-1.38) and farm size (4.15), which were statistically related with utilization of yam mini-sett innovation at p< 0.05 and p<0.10. Constraints to utilization of yam mini-sett innovation practices were inadequate access to credit (X̅3.59), poor soil fertility (X̅3.51), unfavorable climate condition (X̅3.32), inadequate training and extension services (X̅3.17) and inadequate knowledge (X̅3.17). It is recommended that efforts should be geared towards creating more awareness and training of the farmers on yam mini-sett innovation practices to enhance its utilization for increased productivity and consequently improved livelihood status.