Abstract:
The study assessed the factors influencing adoption of FARO 52 rice package by
farmers in selected Local Government Areas of Niger state. Structured questionnaires
were used for data collection. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed where a
total of 166 FARO 52 rice farmers were randomly sampled and proportionately drawn
at 25% across each of the nine selected villages. Data were analyzed using descriptive
and inferential statistics. The result indicated that the package recorded 15.1%, 51.2%
and 33.7% low, medium and high adoption level respectively. The constraints identified
by the study include: high cost of the technology, complexity, lack of technical skills
and low availability of the inputs among others. The results of the linear regression
model indicated that farmers’ age, household size, farm size, farming experience,
extension visits, training participation and membership of associations had a significant
relationship with the adoption of FARO 52 rice package. In conclusion, the adoption of
FARO 52 rice package as a whole was influenced by socio-economic and institutional
factors. The study thus recommends that the concerned stakeholders should give
priority attention to those socio-economic and institutional significant factors identified
by this study while formulating development strategies and programs for different
categories of farmers
