Factors affecting adoption of urea deep placement technology by rice farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the factors affecting the adoption of Urea Deep Placement (UDP) technologies by rice farmers in Kwara State. Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from 144 rice farmers who were randomly selected. Data on the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, their level of awareness and adoption of UDP technologies were obtained. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analysis data collected. The findings indicated that most (78.5%) of the rice farmers were male while the respondents’ mean age was 50 years. The mean household size was 10 people and 43.0% of the respondents had formal education. The results also showed that all (100%) the respondents were aware of UDP technologies but adoption level was low (21.5%). The significant variables were household size, educational level, rice farming experience, farm size, paddy output and USG sources; the coefficient of farm size and USG source were however negative. The study recommended that relevant stakeholders in the rice sector in Kwara State should be more involved in UDP technologies dissemination and training of rice farmers to address the knowledge gap and low of adoption level of UDP technologies in the study area. In addition, all tiers of government including the non-governmental organizations should gear efforts to link rice farmers to credible sources of USG for increased paddy rice yield to attain the much desired self-sufficiency in rice production in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Factors, Adoption, Urea deep placement technology, Rice, Farmers