Variation in technology adoption among smallholder farmers involved in soya bean production: the case of Alito sub-county in Kole district.

Abstract

Soybean is a legume crop grown in the tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates which is used for food and animal feed. However, the production and productivity of soybean is low and improvement in production and productivity depends on the extent to which a household has applied the recommended production technologies. The objectives of this study were: to estimates the level of technological adoption among smallholder soya bean farmers and to identify the major factors contributing to variation in technological adoption among smallholder's soybean farmers in the study area. Across sectional study was conducted among short bean farmers in Alito Sub County in Kole district. Simple random sampling method was employed to select the required sample of 60 households, of soy bean farmers for the study. In this study, descriptive statistical methods were used to describe household characteristics and adoption of the technologies among households. The t-test and chi square test was conducted for continuous variables to see the presence of statistically significant differences on the level of technological adoption and factors contributing to adaptation of the recommended technology. The findings of the study revealed that Maksoy 3N was the most commonly grown variety by most of the people in the sample household followed by Maksoy 4N as an improved variety, Namsoy 2N and Maksoy 2N the local variety grown still by the farmers. The cultivation, method mostly used by the farmers are hand hoes and Oxen interchangeably. The use tractor was extremely low among the households estimated at 2.9%; while in pest and disease control it was found that 78.3% stated using chemicals as their control option, only 5% are using cultural methods and interestingly 16.7% do nothing. It is however not known whether the farmers are using correct chemicals. The factors such as Income levels, skills acquired in using soybean technology, the level of education and accessibility to the recommended soy bean technology by the sample household are factors contributing to farmers’ ability to take up those technology and other demographic characteristic such as land holding which was found also an important variable positively and significantly influencing adoption of soybean production technologies. This would imply that, farmers with increasing land holding are more likely to adopt recommended soybean production technologies. Thus, research and extension organizations should give attention in solving farmers' problem especially by improving the contribution of recommended soybean production technologies to enhance productivity per unit of area. It was found that extension contact positively affects soybean production technology, which implies. the need for more regular contact and extension services. Thus, the extension system needs be strengthened further to increase the flow of agricultural information. Finally, it is necessary to establish strong network between farmers, research, and extension and policy makers and also establishment of farmers group to support in providing services like skills and knowledge on the use of available technique, loans for easy accessibility of expensive to acquire technique like tractor in land cultivation in the area, the farmers to be sensitize on the benefits of adapting improve soybean technology in soy bean production in relation to the changing environment like weather, soil fertility and outbreak of pest and diseases.