PERCEIVED RELEVANCE OF IMPROVED RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES IN KATCHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines perceived relevance of improved rice production technologies in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used in collecting data from 90 rice farmers who were randomly selected from the study area. Data on the socio economic characteristics of the respondents, their awareness and perception of the improved rice technologies as well as yield before and after adopting the improved technologies were obtained. Descriptive statistics and T-test were used for statistical analysis. The findings indicated that majority (83.1 %) of the farmers were male with mean age of 41years. The mean household size was 8 people and also 46% had less than secondary school education. Awareness of the improved rice technology recorded 85.4% for sawah practices, 69.7% for fadama, 94.4% for improved seed variety (nerica), 80.9% for plough, 62.9 for power tiller and 73.0% for planter. Improved seed variety and land evaluation technology were highly perceived to be relevant by the respondents in the study area. There was a significant difference between the output before and after adopting the improved technologies (t-value = -3142). The study recommended that extension agents should encourage farmers on the use of farm machinery and equipment, agrochemicals and land evaluation technologies to further boost rice production and that there should be adequate awareness creation for improved rice production technologies by extension agents and relevant stakeholders with a view to improving rice production through adoption of proven technologies.