Adoption of recommended rice production practices among women rice farmers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the factors influencing adoption of recommended rice production practices by women farmers in Nasarawa State. A total of 203 women rice farmers were selected for the study using multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected using structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used for data analysis. Results reveal that the majority (70.9%) of the respondents was less than 45 years old, married (82.5%), had below secondary education (80.0%), had farming experience of 10 years and above (80%), and inherited their farmlands (81.4%). Farm size (2.6353, P<0.05) was the only socio-economic factor which significantly influenced adoption of recommended rice production practices by women rice farmers in the study area. Constraints hindering adoption of RRPPs were unavailability of credit facilities, poor marketing system and unstable price, and inadequate extension contacts. It was recommended that government should ensure that credit facilities are made available and accessible to women farmers. Also, buy-back arrangement should be introduced in order to ensure good pricing for rice producers.

Keywords: Rice production of women, factors influencing adoption of rice production practices by women