Adoption of improved rice processing technologies among women in Niger State

Abstract

The study was conducted in Niger State, Nigeria. The study evaluates the adoption of improved rice processing technologies among women rice processors. Data for the study were collected through a structured interview scheduled and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages and means, the hypothesis was tested using Chi-square (χ2). The result revealed that majority of the respondent were still in their active age, with the mean age of 42 years and majority (92.5%) had one form education or the other. Large proportion 90% and 77.5% of the respondents were married and had moderate house hold sizes respectively, majority 97.5% were members of various cooperative societies, while 90% had been in rice processing business for over 5 years. 85% and 30% claimed they had access to training and credit facilities respectively. The awareness level of the respondents about various technologies were very high, adoption levels were however, very low. The study revealed that age, marital status, cooperative membership, level of education, access to credit and level of awareness had significant relationship with adoption at 5% level of probability. The study further revealed that high cost of processing machines, inadequate extension visit and nature of local rice were the major constraints faced by the farmers in the study area. The study recommended that processors should be encouraged to participate more actively in cooperative activities so that they could benefit from assistance usually rendered by Non Governmental Organizations, government organization and donor/development agencies.