FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF FARO 52 RICE PACKAGE BY FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF FARO 52 RICE PACKAGE BY FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.  A RESEARCH PROJECT ON AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

ABSTRACT

The study assessed the factors influencing adoption of FARO 52 rice package by farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Niger state. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed where a total of 166 FARO 52 rice farmers were randomly sampled and proportionately drawn at 25% across each of the nine selected villages. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result indicated that the package recorded 15.1%, 51.2% and 33.7% low, medium and high adoption level respectively. The constraints identified by the study include: high cost of the technology, complexity, lack of technical skills and low availability of the inputs among others. The results of the linear regression model indicated that farmers’ age, household size, farm size, farming experience, extension visits, training participation and membership of associations had a significant relationship with the adoption of FARO 52 rice package. In conclusion, the adoption of FARO 52 rice package as a whole was influenced by socio-economic and institutional factors. The study thus recommends that the concerned stakeholders should give priority attention to those socio-economic and institutional significant factors identified by this study while formulating development strategies and programs for different categories of farmers.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food and cash crop in the world. It feeds more than half of the world’s population (Ojohomon, 1995). The world grows 153.8 million hectares of rice annually with average worldwide yield of 3,885 kg/ha. This gives a production of 598.8 million metric tons, which is greater than that of either corn (590.8 million metric tons) or wheat (576.3 million metric tons) (FAO, 2011). Rice has become an important economic crop and the major staple food for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in general and Nigeria in particular (Africa Rice Centre, 2012).

FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF FARO 52 RICE PACKAGE BY FARMERS IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.  A RESEARCH PROJECT ON AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE