EFFECTS OF BURN-OUT ON INNOVATION PREFERENCE AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
1Gondo, Kelvin Terver, 2Yaro Anthony & 3Pev Isaac
1Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education, Katsina Ala, Benue State
2Department of Agricultural Education, College of Education, Zing, Taraba State Nigeria
3Taraba State Post Primary Schools Management Board, Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria
Email: zikpev@yahoo.com
Corresponding author: Pev Isaac
ABSTRACT
A survey was conducted to assess perceived effects of burn-out on innovation preference among rural farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. The population of this study consisted of all rural farmers in Benue State. A total of 398 respondents were selected using stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data for the study were collected from primary source with aid of a well-structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentages, mean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics such as Logit regression and Spearman’s Ranked Correlation Coefficient. Analysis showed that the major innovation preference among the rural farmers includes use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and improved seeds varieties. Burn-out symptoms experienced by rural farmers were tiredness most of the time, reduced immunity, frequent headache, backache and muscle ache, loss of appetite, sense of failure and self-doubt. Determinants of burn-out among the rural farmers which include loss of interest, felt sense of failure and self-doubt, lack of motivation in the innovation, tiredness to adopt innovations that have no value and failure to apply innovations. It was concluded that rural farmers’ low level of innovation preference increased the level of burn-out among them. Socio-economic characteristics, especially household size and estimated farm annual income had significant effect on the probability of experiencing burn-out. It was therefore recommended that rural farmers should increase their preference for innovations.
Keywords: Burn-Out, Innovation Preference, Rural Farmers
