Table 28: Frequency of Practicing Rice Technologies

Table 28: Frequency of Practicing Rice Technologies

Technologies Extent

Frequency Percentage Regularly 36 76.6Improved varieties

Often 9 19.1 Sometime 1 2.1 Rarely - Never 1 2.1 Weighted score 4.7 4.7 Regularly 27 57.4Site/Land preparation

Often 17 34.0 Sometime 2 4.3 Rarely 1 2.1 Never 1 2.1 Weighted score 4.6 4.6

Regularly 26 53.1Seed preparation

Often 10 20.4 Sometime 11 22.4 Rarely 1 2.0 Never 1 2.0 Weighted score 4.2 4.2 Regularly 17 34.7Determine planting season

Often 22 44.9 Sometime 8 16.3 Rarely 1 2.0 Never 1 2.0 Weighted score 4.2 4.2

Crop establishment Regularly 24 49.0 Often 17 34.7 Sometime 6 12.2 Rarely 1 2.0 Never 1 2.0 Weighted score 4.2 4.2

Weed management Regularly 36 73.5 Often 12 24.5 Sometime - Rarely - Never 1 2.0 Weighted score 4.5 4.5 Regularly 37 75.5

Fertilizer application Often 9 18.4 Sometime 2 4.1 Rarely 2 4.3 Never 1 1.3 Weighted score 4.5 4.5 Regularly 24 52.2

Pest and Disease control Often 17 37.0 Sometime 3 6.5 Rarely 2 4.3 Never 2 2.5 Weighted score 4.0 4.0

Acknowledging the fact that farmers are very rational as any other entrepreneurs, they go for best available production permutation among the lots for specific production target; which could be subsistence (for household) or special needs, commercial or trial of a technology among others options under socio-metric considerations) always have reasons for any production decisions they took. Based on the questions posed to these farmers to give reasons for adopting good agronomic practices (GAP) they adopted and their responses are as presented in table 34 below.

4.4 Reasons for farmers' adoption of Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) Acknowledging the fact that farmers are very rational as any other entrepreneurs, they go for best available production permutation among the lots for specific production target; which could be subsistence (for household) or special needs, commercial or trial of a technology among others options under socio-metric considerations) always have reasons for any production decisions they took. Based on the questions posed to these farmers to give reasons for adopting good agronomic practices (GAP) they adopted and their responses are as presented in table 29 below.

From the table 29 below, about 64% of cassava farmers claimed they adopted these agronomic practices because they were considered to be labour saving while 14% claimed they are not sure of the labour saving capability of these practices and about 25% claimed they disagree of this assertion. As for the technologies to enhance higher yield, about 93% of the farmers that participated claimed these practices enhance higher yield while about 7% claimed they disagreed. Furthermore, about 57% of these farmers claimed these practices enhance soil moisture retention while about 43% claimed they were not sure. 86% of these cassava farmers claimed that these practices help to control erosion and about 7% claimed they were not sure; while 7% disagreed with this declaration. Moreover, about 79% of these farmers claimed that, these practices enhance soil fertility while about 14% claimed they are not sure and 7% totally disagreed. Finally, about 71% of these farmers claimed that these practices help crops to adapt to climate change while 29% claimed they were not sure.

Sorghum farmers also have their good reasons for adopting good agronomic practices as shown in table 29 below. From this table, about 69% of the farmers claimed that these practices are labour saving while about 10% claimed they are not sure and 21% claimed that, they disagreed with this statement. On the other hand, 97% of these farmers claimed these practices encourage higher yields and 3% were not sure. That these practices enhance soil moisture retention, about 89% of these farmers agreed to this, and about 11% claimed they were not sure. Also, soil erosion control was one of the attributes of these good agronomic practices and about 93% of these farmers were in affirmative that, these practices enhance erosion control while about 7% claimed they were not sure. About 83% of these farmers claimed that, these practices enhance soil fertility while about 17% claimed they are not sure. Finally, about 76% of sorghum farmers claimed that, these practices help crops to adapt to climate change while about 25% claimed they were not sure.