PERCEPTION OF NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF EMPLOYMENT'SGRADUATE AGRICULTURAL TRAINING SCHEME ON CASSAVA FARMERS' PRODUCTION IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study assessed the perception of Rural Agricultural Development and Graduate Training Scheme of National Directorate of Employment on cassava farmers' production in Imo State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 180 respondents (90 NDE beneficiaries and 90 non - beneficiaries). Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Z - test analysis). The result from the study showed that 57.78% and 63.33% of NDE and non-NDE cassava farmers were males respectively, with mean ages of 43.40 years (beneficiaries) and 39.50 years (non - beneficiaries) and the mean farming experience of 14 years (beneficiaries) and 14.50 years (non beneficiaries). The NDE cassava farmers had a favourable perception.