ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY NEED PRIORITIES OF ARABLE CROP FARMERS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was designed to assess the need priority of the available technologies used by the arable crop farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, determined the available technologies in use by the respondents and determined the need priority among the technologies used by the farmers. . The study was carried out in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State Nigeria. One hundred and twenty respondents were randomly selected for the study. Information was collected from the respondents with the aid of well-structured questionnaire while additional information was gathered with Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Data collected were analysed with the use of descriptive statistics, chi-square, ranking and correlation. The result revealed that the average age of the respondents involved in the production of arable crops in the study was 31 years. Improved variety of seed was the most important technology needed by the respondents in the study area, while machinery for commercial production was the least needed. In the study, use of agrochemicals was the technology mostly used while machinery was the least used technology. The chi square analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between technology need of respondents and their marital status (p=0.00) and source of land (p= 0.00). The Pearson correlation coefficient also indicated a significant but negative relationship between respondent’s household size and technology need (r= -0.058, p=0.02). The distance of the farm to the village market was significant with the technology need of the farmers (p-value = 0.030). The study recommended that government effort should be channelled towards making improved varieties of seed available for the farmers at a subsidised rate. In addition public-private partnership should be encouraged to make capital-intensive technologies available to farmers at affordable rates.