Socioeconomic Characteristics Influencing the Adoption of Improved Maize Production Techniques among Farmers in Billiri Local Government Area, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The research evaluated the socioeconomic characteristics influencing the adoption of improved maize production techniques among farmers in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed. From a population of 900 maize-growing households, 218 respondents were randomly chosen as the sample size. Data were analysed using percentages, mean, and logit regression. Results reveal that the mean age of the farmers was 39.6 years, the majority (61.9%) of the farmers were male and most (81.7%) of the respondents were married. About three-quarters (72%) of the respondents attended tertiary education, the average household size of the participants was 9 persons, and the average farming experience was 9.2 years. Improved maize varieties were the most introduced maize technology to the farmers (80.8%), but fertilizer had the highest adoption rate (50.2%). The high cost of fertilizer was revealed by 68.1% of the respondents to be the major constraint facing the farmers Farmers’ education and credit were both significant at 1% and positive while experience obtained from farming and contact with extension agents were both statistically significant at 10%; farming experience was positive while extension contact was negative. Fertilizers should be subsidized by the government and education made affordable.