Effect of the adoption of improved rice varieties on the productivity of small-scale farms in Badeggi Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The paper examines the effects of the adoption of improved rice varieties on the output of small-scale farms in Baddegi, Niger State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting study areas. Four villages each were selected purposely from the two district areas in Baddegi and twenty farmers each were randomly selected from eight villages giving a total of 160 farmers. Fata were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed with the use of simple descriptive statistics and multiple regression. The results from the study revealed that the use of improved rice variety was significant at 1% and 5% level of significance and had a positive effect on farmers output. The study also revealed that about 82% of the farmers used the improved variety and also about 44.64% of the farmers source of awareness was through listening to radios. It is concluded that the use of improved rice variety is an important innovation in boosting the output of rice farmers. It is recommended that farmers be advised to join cooperative societies to benefit from the opportunities it avails the farmers.