Gender-based analysis of risk management and improved technology adoption among small-scale maize farmers in Kwara State

Abstract

This study examines the gender-based analysis of risk management strategies and improved technology adoption among small-scale maize farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to: compare the risk management strategies by gender; analyze the gender-based effect of the adoption of improved varieties on output and evaluate factors influencing the adoption of improved technologies among male and female farmers in the study area. A random sampling procedure was used to select a total of 250 male and female farmers in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the data for the study. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Propensity score matching, and logit model. The findings of the study were that: early planting was the most common risk management strategy among the men (79.86%) and women (73.12%) farmers followed by diversification, use of improved varieties and bush fallowing. The result also showed that the adoption of improved varieties increased the yield (productivity) of both male and female farmers. The factors influencing the adoption of improved among the men farmers include extension access, educational level, output and labour while for the women farmers, the price of improved seed, output, herbicide and credit availability were the factors that significantly influenced their adoption of improved varieties. The study recommended that the price of the improved seed should be made affordable for women farmers, information sharing should be encouraged among male farmers and the government should empower extension agents in sensitizing farmers on risk management strategies especially the adoption of improved crop varieties and diversification into other agricultural related activities towards improving their livelihood.