Justine Liberio

Factors Contributing to Adoption of Sunflower Farming Innovations: in Mlali Ward, Mvomero District-tanzania Justine Liberio

Findings from this study revealed that respondent's education level, family size, farming experience, availability of sunflower market, and frequency of contacting extension officer significantly influenced the adoption of sunflower farming innovations at p ? 0.05. However, sex of respondent, respondent's age (years), respondent's marital status, and livestock ownership did not significantly influence the adoption of sunflower farming innovations at p ? 0.05. Most farmers were producing sunflower in order to get oil for home consumption, animal feed for the livestock and income generation. It was also revealed that smallholder farmers could not produce to their maximum potential as they were constrained by many factors. Among the constraints were; low farm produce price compared to production costs and the market prices, weak cooperative system, inadequate agro processing facilities to add value and shelf life to farm produce, insufficient rural financial institutions to address farmers credit needs on loan terms, low utilization of appropriate technologies, weak research- extension-farmer linkage, poor rural transport, lack of adequate improved seeds, pests and diseases, etc.