Faturoti B.O., Ajayi A.R., Baiyeri P., Madukwe M.C.
SARO Agro Allied Limited, P.M.B. 1490, Okesha, Ilesha; Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Faturoti, B.O., SARO Agro Allied Limited, P.M.B. 1490, Okesha, Ilesha; Ajayi, A.R., Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Baiyeri, P., Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; Madukwe, M.C., Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Musa sp. hybrid based technologies developed by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to reduce harmful effect of Black Sigatoka disease Mycosphaerella fijiensis and increase food production, farmer's welfare and promote enterprise development in Musa sp., were massively disseminated through the network of Agricultural Development Program in Southern Nigeria. Five farmers in each of the three states were randomly selected in year 2000 for delivery and evaluation of Musa hybrids and associated technology (sucker multiplication, agronomic and post harvest utilization techniques). As a result of farmer-to-farmer spread, the technologies was expected to have spread to other farmers in the project farmers' neighborhood within the six years period from initial dissemination; this study was designed to evaluate the social impact and income profile from the technologies on the primary farmers and others who received the technologies from them (secondary farmers). Data were collected with validated structured questionnaires and interview schedule from 165 farmers (15 primary farmers and 50 other randomly selected beneficiary secondary farmers from each of the three study states). Data analysis involved the use of frequency distribution, percentage, means and Chi-square statistics. Statistical significant socio-economic status increases, were recorded in eleven out of thirteen social impact variables evaluated and a positive relationship was established between awareness and utilization of new varieties the hypotheses tested were rejected. Two major sources of income (suckers and fruits) were identified; sucker sales from 74 respondents who specialized on sucker production was N2,158,220 in 2005-2006 while income realized from fruit sales rose from N24, 920 ha-1 in 2000 to N174, 263.20 in 2006. Total sales from Musa sp. fruits increased from N7, 002,754 in 2000 to N48, 967,952 in 2006. Moreover, land under Musa sp. production increased from 99 ha-1 in 2000 to 281 ha-1 in 2006. The study concluded that the project impacted positively in increased food, enterprise development and increased Musa sp. production in the study area. © 2009 Asian Network for Scientific Information.