Abstract
The study investigated the factors that affect adoption of improved rice
varieties in the southern part of Borno state, Nigeria. The research involved
120 respondents and 12 farmers groups from three districts that were
randomly selected. Questionnaire was used to collect data which were
interpreted using frequency table, percentage, chi-square and cluster
analysis. Comparison of the significance results between the individual
locations was done to look for the individual differences. Focus group was
used to explore some of the issues in greater detail. The result of the analysis
showed that (44%) were fast adopters, (35%) slow adopters and (21%) were
non-adopters. The findings revealed that access to improved rice seed
(47.38***), access to credit (17.70***), contact with extension agents (247.59***)
and membership of farmer’s association (24.65***) are highly significant while
age (16.05*) and farming experience (16.84*) are also significant to adoption
of improved rice varieties in the area. Farmer’s groups also mentioned that
lack of a medium maturing variety and a thresher are amongst their most
important problems. This challenges present implication for developing
different technologies and support system that take such variance in to
account or government will keep on spending a huge resources that will not
give a good results and also a threat to food security.
Keywords: Adoption, Technology, Rice. Improved Varieties