Adoption Of Akilimo Advisory Technology And Multidimensional Poverty Among Cassava Farming Households In Oyo State, Nigeria

This study evaluated the adoption of AKILIMO advisory technology and its effect on multidimensional poverty among cassava-cultivating households in Oyo State, Nigeria. A well-designed questionnaire and interview schedule were used to obtain data from 364 cassava farming households. Descriptive statistics, Probit and Heckman Probit regression model, and the treatment effect model based on nearest-neighbour matching were used. The results showed that cassava farmers were predominantly males, in their middle age, married, and relatively educated, with a mean household size of 8 and a farm size of 5 hectares on average. Also, 67.9% of the farmers embraced AKILIMO tools for intercropping practices, which recorded the highest adoption rate, while the best planting practices had the lowest adoption rate. Owning mobile phones, association membership, and farm size positively affected AKILIMO adoption, whereas old age and full-time farming decreased the probability of adoption. In addition, age, farm size, years of residence in the community, and full-time cassava farming had significant effects on multidimensional poverty. Still, access to credit, farm size, and membership in cassava associations had no significant effects. The analysis of treatment effects showed that AKILIMO adoption decreased multidimensional poverty by 61% overall and 73% among adopters compared to non-adopters. These findings highlight the role of AKILIMO adoption in improving the well-being of farmers and the need to strengthen digital extension services and group adoption to facilitate widespread and sustainable AKILIMO adoption.