Adoption of selected innovations in rice production and their effect on farmers living standard in Bauchi local government area, Bauchi state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on the adoption of five selected agricultural innovations in rice production and their effect on farmers' income and standard of living in Bauchi Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State. The innovations are fertilizer, agrochemicals, improved seeds, machinery and sprayers. The farmers categorized into three groups; adopters, partial adopters and non – adopters were selected from five villages using systematic sampling technique. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of 82 rice growers from these villages. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that 38% of the respondents had no formal education and 90% had less than 2.5 hectares of land for rice cultivation. Average income per hectare of adopter war N22, 745.2 from rice products for that season, while that of partial adopters and non-adopters were N18, 931.8 and N 20, 885.7. Also 10% of adopters, 60% of partial adopters fell under high standard of living, 55% of adopters and 35% of partial adopters fell under middle standard of living, while 35% adopters, 59% partial adopters and 100% of non-adopters fell within low standard of living. This indicates that the more adoption of relevant agricultural innovations in rice production, the more increase in yield and income. There is the need for effective and direct distribution of farm inputs to the rural farmers at the on set of farming season and at subsidized rate.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 317-320