Determinants of Adoption Decisions of Rural Youths in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The study assessed rural youth response to improved farming practices and determined those variables affecting their adoption decisions in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Data were obtained from 332 young farmers sampled from 4 states in the region and analyzed using frequency tables and logistic regression. Results show an above average response to fishery (66.7%) and livestock (60%) technologies by the youths while response to crop innovations was below average (40%). Contact with extension agents (odd ratio = 2.39), income (2.22) and gender (1.46) were important determinants of young farmers adoption of crop-related technologies. Income (odd ratio=1.43), stock size (1.23) and gender (0.78) had a significant influence on the utilization of livestock-related technologies while extension contact (1.24), stock size (3.96), income (3.13) and gender (1.77) played important roles in their adoption of fishery technologies. The study encourages the expansion of extension services and credit facilities to young farmers in the region.