Abstract
There is a pressing need to boost agricultural innovation to significantly increase cassava output in Nigeria. This study therefore assessed the utilization of cassava production technologies/innovations by cassava farmers in the Abak Agricultural Zone, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to; examine the socioeconomic characteristics of the extension agents and cassava farmers; identify the sources of information on cassava innovation; examine the level of cassava innovation utilization; and assess the constraining factors militating against utilization of production technologies/innovations by cassava farmers in the study area. The multistage sampling procedure, was used to select one hundred (120) respondents. Descriptive statistics revealed key socioeconomic characteristics such as a male-dominated cassava operation, an average age 39.1 years, 5.5 years farming experience and a mean farm size of 1.1 hectares. Farmers primarily source information from friends/family (33.8%), radio (22.7%), and model farmers (20.4%), with low reliance on extension agents (8.0%). Utilization of cassava innovations is moderate (mean 2.50), with higher use in intercropping (x=2.71) and site selection (x=2.63), but lower for fertilizer application (x=2.09) and pest/disease control (x=1.79). Major constraints (mean 2.5) include inadequate farmland (x=3.54), poor extension contact (x=3.03), inadequate storage (x=2.93), and lack of farm credit (x=2.87), alongside high costs, technology attributes, and poor income. The study, therefore recommends; government should fund and deploy "Mobile Demonstration Units" with well-trained extension agents to conduct regular, hands-on field training sessions directly in farming communities.