DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED IRISH POTATO VARIETIES AMONG FARMERS IN CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the determinants of adoption of improved Irish potato varieties among farmers in the Central Agricultural zone of Plateau State. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 160 small scale farmers within the zone who served as respondents. Data for the study were obtained by the use of a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected from the field. The results of the analysis show that the respondents had the mean age of 44 years, with men forming majority at 68.8%, while household size of the respondents was on an average of 8 persons. Majority (93.2%) of the respondents had some level of education. The mean years of farming experience of the respondent was 24 years. The mean farm size was 2.8 hectares While the mean annual income level was N343, 212; 500 The respondents‟ major sources of information on irish potato production were fellow farmers (58%), followed by farmers association „/cooperative societies (51.3%) and extension workers (44.4%). The rate of adoption of improved Irish potato varieties was observed to be moderate as only four varieties Nicola (92.5%) Marabel (83.4%) Connect (51.3%) and Diamant (50.6%) recorded over 50 percent adoption rate. The result of the multiple linear regression revealed determinants of adoption of Irish potato as age (t=3.45) ) was significantly positive at 1%, farming experience (t=10.274) was significantly positive at 1% and total farm size (t=2.244) was significantly positive at 5%. The major constraints to the adoption of improved Irish potato varieties by the respondents were high cost of improved varieties (89.4%); insufficient capital (86.3%); adulteration of seeds (82.5%) among others It was recommended that researchers (breeders) should develop more efficient, affordable and cost effective varieties of irish potato seed potato that farmers can afford. Government should also provide subsidy on production inputs such as seeds and pesticides to assist small scale farmers