Full Length Research Paper

Awareness and effectiveness of vegetable technology information packages by vegetable farmers in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Sabo Elizabeth^1* and Dia Y. Zira²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State University, P. M. B 25 Mubi Nigeria.

²Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Adamawa State College of Agriculture, Mubi, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: elikwabe@yahoo.com.

Accepted 8 September, 2008

   Abstract

Dry season vegetable production plays a key role in agricultural economics of Adamawa state, as a basic source of food, income and employment especially for resource poor farmers.  This study evaluates the awareness and effectiveness of agricultural technology information by dry season vegetable farmers in Mubi region. Findings revealed that the vegetable production is gender sensitive to the male sex. Most household depend on family as a reliable source of labour. Awareness was high for vegetable production information packages. The farmers indicated the need for agricultural extension services, the dearth of which limits achieving high productivity. The use of mechanized land preparation techniques was less effective among the farmers interviewed. Vegetable technology information as seed dressing, availability of improved seeds, planting methods, weeding, water and disease management, pest control, harvesting and use of fertilizer were found to be very effective among the farmers. This could influence positively vegetable production in the study areas. The low effectiveness rating for mechanized land preparation and water management practices may be associated with the complex and expensive nature of these technologies.

Key words: Dry season farming, agricultural technology information, complex technology, effectiveness, awareness.