Analysis of Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Rice Varieties with High Yielding and Weed Suppressing Abilities in Kano River Irrigation Project (KRIP)

Abstract

This study analysed the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of rice varieties with high yielding and weed suppressing abilities in Kano River Irrigation Project (KRIP) Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 135 rice farmers for the study. Descriptive statistics, logit regression analysis and likert scale rating were used to analyse the data. The results show that the respondents were mostly males (67 percent) with average age of 43 years and had one form of education or the other, implying that the respondents were young and literate. Farming experience, household size, farm size and extension contact averaged 13 years, 7 persons, 1.7ha and 6 times respectively. Respondent’s adoption decision was influenced by credit availability, gender, market availability, education, extension contact, labour availability and farm size. The respondents were in agreement with all the stated advantages of rice varieties with high yielding and weed suppressing abilities. Average adoption intensity was 47 percent and respondents disagreed with most of the perceived constraints of the technologies. The study therefore recommends that extension services should be adequately funded, monitored and evaluated intermittently by government to guarantee effective dissemination of the improved technologies. Also, farmers should form cooperative groups to strengthen their capital base.

Keywords: adoption intensity, irrigation, logit, perception, rice varieties, weed suppressing