Abstract

The study assessed perceived attributes and constraint to adoption of improved cowpea production technologies among farmers in Damaturu Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the available cowpea production technologies in the study area; examine the attributes that contributes to adoption of improved cowpea production technologies; determine the factors that influenced the adoption of improved cowpea production technologies; identify key constraints to adoption of improved cowpea production technologies. The study adopted the use of multistage sampling technique in obtaining the sampled population. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule technique administered to 100 farmers. Descriptive statistic was employed in analyzing the whole objectives of the study. The result of the analysis revealed that majority (24.0%) of the respondents indicated cowpea varieties and pesticide (22.0%) to be readily available in the study area. The result of the analysis on perceived attributes that influences the adoption of cowpea production technologies by farmers indicated cowpea varieties, pesticide and seed rate to be the technologies that were considered the most based on the whole attributes of an innovation. The result further revealed that majority (33.0%) of the respondents indicated creation of awareness and increased output/income (28.0%) as the factor that help influenced the adoption of cowpea production technologies. Amongst the constraints experienced by farmers in adoption of cowpea production technologies includes lack of finance (27.0%) and lack of awareness on the availability of the technology (20.0%) to be the major constraints against farmers likelihood to adoption of the technology. The study recommended that government should develop an effective strategy for the provision of credit facilities to farmers, extension organization must ensure farmers accessibility to certify seed and improved storage facilities should be introduced to farmers at least cost in order to reduce post-harvest loss.