Exploring Production Constraints, Varietal Traits Preferences and Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in Nobewam, Ashanti Region

Abstract

Identifying appropriate policy interventions to improve rice productivity is crucial to improvingn food security and incomes. This study  used data from 73 rice farmers randomly selected from an irrigated scheme and employed Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance and  multivariate regression techniques to explore production constraints, farmers' subjective varietal traits preferences and factors affecting  adoption of improved rice varieties. Results showed capital acquisition, drudgery in land preparation, and weed infestation were among  the constraints to rice production. Also, farmers selected rice varieties based on taste, ease of cooking, milling recovery, swelling ability  and aroma. Empirical results revealed that farm size, land tenure, ease of cooking, milling recovery and percentage broken affected the  selection of improved rice varieties. We suggest that rice varietal development programmes should consider grain traits preferred by end  users in breeding activities. Also, government and local authorities should guarantee land tenure security across rice production  areas to encourage the adoption of improved varieties.