Utilisation of Improved Snail Production Technologies on the Livelihood of Farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of utilisation of improved snail production technology on the livelihood of farmers in Abia State, Nigeria. Snowball sampling technique was used to select ninety (90) respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Mean, standard deviation and multiple regressions were employed in data analysis. Technologies highly utilised by the farmers include enclosed housing (= 3.46), water regulator (= 3.44), and feeding with fresh materials ( =3.54). Utilisation of these technologies positively affected farmers’ productivity (= 3.44), income (= 3.07) and access to food (= 3.21). Effective utilisation of the technologies was constrained by difficulty understanding the technology (= 3.26), difficulty using technology ( = 2.57), high cost of housing ( = 2.81), and difficulty maintaining usage ( = 3.15). Age (t = -3.31) and level of educational attainment (t = 2.691) significantly influenced technology utilization. The utilization of improved snail production technology enhanced the livelihood of the farmers. The study recommends regular training programmes by government and relevant stakeholders for the youths, and retirees and the provision of start-up capital to encourage wider adoption of improved snail production technologies