DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED SORGHUM VARIETIES (Sorghum bicolor) AMONG HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study analysed the adoption of improved sorghum varieties among farming households in Niger State, Nigeria. A Multistage sampling procedure was adopted to collect data from 100 farming households in Gbako and Katcha Local Government Areas (LGA) with the aid of a well structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential methods were used to analyse the data. Logit model was used to estimate the factors affecting adoption of improved sorghum varieties in the study area Results show that the coefficients for education and access to credit were directly related to probability of adoption of improved sorghum varieties at 1% and 10% level of significance. The coefficients of farm size and gestation period were negative and significant at 5% level each. The study recommends targeted breeding and release of improved sorghum seeds with early maturing varieties to farmers to enhance productivity and maximum use of land. Policies targeted at free and affordable education will enable farmers' access and process innovations for enhanced sorghum production as well as provision of credit at little or no interest rates.