ADOPTION OF IMPROVED FEEDING TECHNOLOGIES AMONG FARMERS IN IWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the adoption of improved feeding technologies among livestock farmers in Iwo Local Government Area of Osun state. A purposive sampling method was used to select 100 livestock farmers for the study. Primary data were collected from the livestock farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means, frequency and percentages. Findings revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 48.44 years and most were married male with a mean family size of 6 persons. Most (83%) of the farmers were literate with majority (69.8%). The major source of awareness for the improved feeding technologies was agricultural extension agents. Soybean wastes had the highest level of awareness (85%) and adoption (55%) among the farmers. There was an increase in the cost feeding of the animals from N516.00 before the adoption of the innovation to N4146.00 after adoption. There was also an increase in the average income per production cycle from N54600.55 before adoption to N135500.50 after adoption. High cost of raw materials was ranked the first constraint to adoption of innovation. It was recommended that farmers should be encouraged to adopt innovation through the provision of financial assistance by relevant institutions while increasing awareness on benefits of adopting feeding technologies through extension.