AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SUDAN SAVANNA TASKFORCE PROJECT IN THE ADOPTION AND DIFFUSION OF IMPROVED COWPEA VARIETIES IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN MUSAWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KATSINA STATE

A study was carried out on adoption and diffusion of improved cowpea varieties introduced by the Sudan Savanna Taskforce project in Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State. The specific objectives were centered on; identifying the socio-economic characteristics of farmers; examining the pattern of adoption of improved cowpea varieties; identifying factors influencing the adoption of improved cowpea varieties and determining problems faced by adopters in cowpea production. To achieve the set objectives, a survey research design was chosen for this study whereby a total of 393 farmers including key informants were randomly selected as sample from 10 communities in the Local Government Area where the project is carrying out its activities. The major instruments used were survey questionnaire and focused group discussion(FGD) for farmers. The data collected were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation and regression analyses). Results revealed that majority of the farmers in the study area were male, within an active farming age, and with large household size. Results also revealed that more farmers were aware of improved cowpea varieties compared to the report of the baseline study before the intervention of the Sudan Savanna Taskforce project with an increase in adoption rate. Non-availability of seeds and fertilizer when needed, high cost of fertilizer, pests and diseases were revealed as the major constraints facing farmers in the study area. The study revealed four variables that significantly influence adoption of improved cowpea varieties. These variables include: education of the farmers, contact of farmers to extension agent, participation in extension activities, and membership of association. Similarly, gender, extension contact membership of association, participation in cowpea related extension activities, and livestock rearing were found to have significant influence on the extent of adoption of improved cowpea varieties. The following recommendations were therefore made: Government should encourage young farmers to engage in massive cowpea production across Katsina State by giving them loans and subsidizing farming inputs so as to remove any barrier that will hinder the production of cowpea.; the Sudan Savanna Taskforce project should promote more of the farmers preferred variety; the project should double its efforts in order to increase farmers participation and the number of extension visits in the project area and finally farmers should be sensitized on where to access the improved seeds and fertilizers by also encouraging their participation in community organizations as it is a means of sharing information on improved agricultural technologies among themselves.