Adoption of Improved Rice Production Technologies among Rice Farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, despite the documented benefits of improved technologies, widespread adoption among the rice farmers remains suboptimal. The study, therefore, aims to ascertain the adoption of improved rice production technologies among rice farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed for the selection of 130 rice farmers for the study. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, frequency counts, percentages, means, and Weighted Mean Scores (WMS) were used to describe the study’s objectives. In addition, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation was used to test the study's hypothesis. The findings revealed that the mean age of rice farmers was 45 years, while the grand mean number of years spent in formal school was 3 years. The mean year of experience in rice farming was 6.5 years, while the mean size of rice farm cultivated was 2.2 hectares. Extension teaching methods such as radio, contact farmers, small plot adoption techniques, method demonstration, and general meetings have been utilized to disseminate improved rice production technologies. The adoption rate of improved technologies is higher as a result of the farmers’ preferences, risk aversion, and access to information, as farmers tend to adopt technologies that align closely with their existing farming practices. The constraints to the adoption of improved rice production technologies were inadequate finance and credit facilities, high cost of farm inputs, absence of processing facilities, excessive weed, pest, and disease infestation. A significant relationship was found between rice farmers’ age (r = -0.530, p = 0.002), number of years of schooling (r = 0.321, p = 0.000), years of experience in rice farming (r = 0.455, p = 0.001), size of rice farm (r = 0.571, p = 0.000), and level of adoption of improved rice production technologies. The study concluded that the socioeconomic characteristics of the rice farmers significantly influence their ability to adopt and implement improved rice production technologies, as farmers with higher educational levels and more substantial resources tend to adopt new technologies more readily. It was recommended that there should be diverse training programmes that cater for the different learning styles and preferences among the farmers.