Factors Affecting Adoption of Recommended Certified Rice Seed Technology by Farmers
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to analyze the Factors affecting adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology among rural farmers in Sabon Gari, Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to:
- describe the socio-economic characteristics of rural farmers in the study area,
- assess the level of awareness of recommended certified rice seed technologyamong the rural farmers in the study area,
- identify source(s) of information on recommended certified rice seed technology available for the farmers,
- assess the common sources of seeds supply for the farmer in the study area,
- determine the socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the adoption of improved seed by rural farmers in Sabon Gari Local government Area and
- identify constraints associated with the adoption of improved seed by the rural farmers in Sabon Gari Local Government Area.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Seed
A seed differs greatly from a grain in the sense that though both are biologically formed by the same process the two are quite different with respect to functions and objectives of production. Seed is meant to be used for producing good crops, whereas grain is meant for food, feed or raw materials. Accordingly, both commodities have to be handled differently. Even where there is surplus seed to be considered for use as grain, the issues that may arise are, whether treated seed is safe for consumption or is it economic to do so. On the other hand, any attempt to use grain as seed is bound to reduce the potential yield, and hence should be discouraged (NSS, 1991).
A good quality seed signifies planting materials that possesses the following characteristics:
- Superior, high-yielding variety.
- Good consumer acceptability.
- Genetically pure.
- High germination percentage.
- Free from insect pest.
- Free from other crop seed.
- High seedling vigour.
- Free from noxious weed seed.
- Free from inert matter.
- Safe moisture content.
- Good physical appearance.
- It is with all these attributes in mind that we want to examine the seed systems (NSS, 1991).
Seed System
Several attempts by Feistritzer and Kelly (1988), Cromwell (1990) have been made to define seed system. Their definitions emphasize seed production and supply of modern varieties by the ‘formal’ seed section. However, the concept of seed system has developed and expanded to include the role of the informal seed sector in seed supply. This is in accordance with the view of Robertson (1997) who indicated the seed system as the total of the physical, organizational and institutional components, their actions and interactions that determine seed supply and use in quantitative and qualitative terms. Thus, two distinctive, but interacting types of seed delivery system are now recognized: formal and informal seed sector.
Overview of Seed System in Nigeria
The quality and orientation of a country’s agriculture are closely related to the availability and use of high quality seed (Usman, 1994). Agricultural Specialists and planner all over the world have recognized that no country or society in our time has developed or can develop a highly productive market-oriented agriculture without an efficient seed supply system properly put in place. It is in this recognition that the Federal Government of Nigeria approached the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO/UN) in 1974 for technical assistance in the establishment of Seed Service in Nigeria. The National Seed Service is a specialized unit of the Federal Department of Agriculture in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. It was established in 1976 and backed by a decree known as the National Seed Decree which is decree No. 72 of 1976.
The development of the National Seed Service (NSS) was supported by two FAO projects; the first project is the improvement in the production and quality control of food crop seed: which took place from 1975 to 1980 and was funded by UNDP and the second project from April 1981 to December 1985 was funded entirely by the Federal Government of Nigeria under a Unilateral Trust Fund arrangement which showed the importance of improved seed production to the Federal Government of Nigeria. During the period, seed processing and seed testing facilities were also provided and installed at Ibadan and Samaru Zaria.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the factors affecting adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology by farmers. Selected rural farmers in sabon Gari Local government in Kaduna State form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents, describes and analyses the results of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics with focus on the findings related to the objectives of the study and testing of the hypotheses generated.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the summary, conclusion and recommendations based on the findings of the study.
Summary
The broad objective of this study was to examine the Factors affecting adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology by farmers. The specific objectives were to investigate the socio-economic and institutional characteristics of the farmers, identify the extent to which the rural farmers were aware of and had adopted the use of recommended certified rice seed technology, identify sources of information on improved seed available to farmers, assess the common sources of seed supply for the farmers, identify the specific socio-economic and institutional factors that influence the adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology and identify the constraints faced by the farmers in their quest to use recommended certified rice seed technology in their production activities. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select the sample size of 129 rural farmers from the purposively selected Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The data were collected through structured questionnaire and interview schedule, administered to 129 rural farmers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. There was a high level of awareness of recommended certified rice seed technology in the study. Maize was the most adopted of the three crops under study followed by sorghum and rice. The level of adoption was above averages for maize which was the most adopted of the selected recommended certified rice seed technology. On common sources of supply and source of information
available to the farmers regarding recommended certified rice seed technology, the study revealed that home saved seeds are the most common source of seed supply while farmers and friends were also identified as the commonly used source of information.
The result of linear multiple regression analysis showed that age, level of education, farm size, extension contact , access to credit and membership of cooperative society had positive and significant influence on adoption, while marital status, household size and farming experience had no significant influence on adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology.
Constraints such as high cost of recommended certified rice seed technology, non-availability of recommended certified rice seed technology, problem of pests and diseases, high cost of major inputs, high cost of labour, lack of access to credit, inadequate farmer education as well as lack of access to profitable markets among others were reported to inhibit the adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology by respondents.
Conclusion
The study revealed a high level of awareness and above average level of adoption with average of 93% and 53% respectively. The study revealed that the general high level of awareness is as a result of the presence of seed companies in the study area as well extension contact with farmers. The determinants of adoption of the recommended certified rice seed technology were age, level of education, farm size, extension contact, access to credit and membership of cooperative society. There were reported indications that the adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology is constrained by the high cost of the seeds and the cost of major inputs like fertilizers and agrochemicals required for their effective use and high cost of labour among other constraints.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made:
- Institutional variables related significantly to adoption of recommended certified rice seed technology more than the socio-economic variables as recorded in this study. The difficulties that the change agents are experiencing are the inadequate understanding of the socio- economic characteristics of the farmers. It is important therefore, to obtain adequate knowledge of the rural farmers’ socio-economic characteristics which is the basis of any social change program. This will enable the change agents to design social change programs to gain acceptance and the relevant approach to take in order to reach and persuade the rural farmers to accept and use recommended certified rice seed technology.
- High cost of seeds was the major challenge encountered by farmers in the study area. It is therefore recommended that the rural farmers form and participate in a functional cooperative groups so as to enable discount pricing of both seeds and related inputs.
- Research effort by the research Institutes should also focus on the production of cheaper and early maturing varieties that may be more profitable for the farmers.
- Policy measures that would guarantee timely seed supply and distribution at affordable price to the rural areas is recommended.
- Importation of rice be banned to encourage local production.
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