ADOPTION OF IMPROVED CASSAVA VARIETIES AMONG SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN APAC DISTRICT

Low adoption of modern agricultural technologies amongst farmers in Uganda has been identified as one of the main reasons for the low agricultural productivity and increase in poverty level. The general objective of this study is to assess the adoption of improved cassava varieties among small scale farmers in Apac District, Uganda. It utilized cross-sectional farm household level data collected in 2020 from a randomly selected sample of 120 cassava producing households from four sub-counties. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistical analysis such as frequencies, means, Chi-square test, Tobit and Logit regression models. Results revealed that majority (66.7%) of the respondents grow improved cassava varieties. NASE 14 is the most (59.2%) highly adopted compared to NASE2 (9.2%), NASE1 (9.2%), NAROCAS1 (6.6%) and NAROCAS2 (15.8%) varieties. Farmer’s level of education, access to extension services and marital status showed a positive and significant (P≤0.01), (P≤0.01), and (P≤0.05) influence on adoption of improved cassava varieties, respectively. Years of farming, access to credit, farm size, and farmer’s age showed a negative relationship with adoption improved cassava varieties. Coefficient of access to extension services (P≤0.01), farm size (P≤0.05) and farming experience (P≤0.05) positively and significantly influenced perception of farmers towards improved cassava varieties, whereas distance from the nearest market (P≤0.05) and age (P≤0.05) negatively and significantly influenced perceptions for farmers. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering Review ISSN: 2582-6271 Vol. 2, Issue.5, Sep-Oct 2021, page no. 38-53 https://ijaser.org Page 39