Factors Influencing Farmer-to-Farmer Transfer of an Improved Cowpea Variety in Kano State, Nigeria

Diffusion of improved technologies among small-scale farmers, especially where formal methods and market mechanisms are inefficient, can be enhanced through the participation of farmers. Unfortunately, formal methods of disseminating improved seed in most African countries have not taken advantage of the farmers’ traditional transfer methods. This article deals with the role of farmer-to-farmer transfer and dissemination of an improved cowpea seed variety in Nigeria. Using household and farm level data from 133 respondents, the study adopts a logit model to investigate the determinants of the farmers’ decision to transfer the new seed variety to other farmers.Area of improved cowpea cultivated, yield, market price of seed, use of pesticides and threshing quality were found to be significant variables affecting farmers’ decision to transfer the improved cowpea variety

Varietal characteristics of cassava: farmers' perceptions and preferences in semiarid zone of west Africa

The study examines and models Farmers' perceptions and preferences of cassava· varietal characteristics vis-i-vis the decision ' to adopt cassava cultivars in their fields. The paper is built on the concept of the effect of technology-specific factors on adoption. By way of threshold decision modelling for each of the countries considered, the results reveal different scenario. Based on the varietal characteristics considered, environmental resistance quality (ERQ), high-yielding quality (HYQ), early maturing qualities (EMQ), leaf quality (LQ), inground storability quality (lSQ) and taste quality (TQ) have declining importance in the order of Iisting. As such, environmental resistance quality appears a major varietal characteristic that the farmers perceived and preferred for cultivating any cassava cultivar in the zone. The results, therefore, reinforce the relative importance of varietal characteristics in the choice and preference of cassava cultivars by farmers; it is, therefore, imperative for breeders to develop cultivars that will be acceptable to the farmers considering their level of preference and perceptions