| The study was conducted to examine the adoption of improved cassava processing technologies by women in Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling was used to select three villages for the study which were Ikanekpo, Inye and Awo-Akpali. Random sampling was used to select 152 respondents which constitute 20% of the sample frame of 760. Analytical tools used were descriptive statistics, regression analysis and Z-test statistic. The results showed that the mean age of the respondents was 35 years. About 68% of the respondents were married. The mean household size was 9 persons. About 16% of the respondents had no formal education. Only 26% of the respondents had extension contact, 20% of the respondents had access to credit and 22% belonged to associations. The average adoption level of the improved cassava processing technologies was 53%. The regression analysis showed that age, household size, processing experience and membership of association were significant to the adoption of improved cassava processing technologies. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.47 which implies that 47% of the variations observed in the adoption of improved cassava processing technologies were explained by the selected factors included in the model. The Z-stat (20.04) for output was greater than the Z-critical (1.98) while the Z-stat (24.30) for income was greater than the Z-critical (1.98) and both were significant at p<o.o5, implying that output and income of the respondents increased after adoption of improved cassava processing technologies. The major constraints encountered by the respondents include inadequate credit, inadequate extension contact, high cost of cassava tubers and high costs of hiring cassava processing machines. The study concluded that age, household size, processing experience and membership of association, were significant and they are important factors to consider in ensuring high level of adoption of improved cassava processing technologies. Only 23% of the respondents received information from extension agents. About 77% get information from other sources like radio, fellow processors, friends and relatives. It was also concluded from the result of the Z-test statistics that adoption of improved cassava processing technologies resulted in higher output and income for the women cassava processors. It is therefore recommended that the women cassava processors should form cooperative societies through which they can put their financial resources together for reinvestment and also through that they can benefit from microcredit schemes to boost their cassava processing enterprise. The extension services on improved cassava processing technologies should be intensified in the study area by offering services especially in aspects that show low adoption in this study like the mechanical sifter and fryer. Improved cassava processing technologies should be made available for the women cassava processors by government and non-governmental agencies. The women themselves can also put their financial resources together to acquire some of the technologies. |
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