Thesis Abstract

<p>&nbsp;                    <b>ABSTRACT</b>&nbsp;</p><p>This study was carried out to investigate the adoption of improved rice production technologies by members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations in Kaduna and Kano States. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 266 respondents comprising of 133 members and 133 non-members from both States while semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Z-test, Chi-square and Tobit regression model. The results from the study showed that the most important source of information on rice production among members of Rice Farmers Associations in the study area was radio (17.3%) followed by other farmers (16.4%), and extension agent (13.3%). Non-members had radio as the most important source with 20.8% followed by other farmers (18.3%) and farmers‟ leader (17.6%). This implied that radio, other farmers, extension agent and farmers‟ leader were the preferred sources of information on rice production among rice farmers in the study area. The level of adoption was above 70% in 7 out of the 13 improved rice production technologies. These included use of tractor for land preparation, planting of improved rice variety, seed dressing with agrochemical, use of herbicide for land clearing, use of herbicide for weed control in rice fields, basal NPK fertiliser application and top dressing with urea. Adoption of rice crop residue as manure and use of rice milling machine among members was between 50 and 69%. Sorting of rice seeds for planting, rice-legume rotation, use of mechanical thresher and use of mechanical winnower were adopted by less than 50% of the respondents. On an average, 64% of members adopted improved rice production technologies compared to 57% of non-members. Test of significance showed that adoption of improved rice production technologies by members was significantly higher than that of non-members in the pooled data. In Kaduna, rice yield per hectare obtained among members was higher than that of non-members but not significantly different while in Kano, nonmembers had significantly higher rice yield than members. Rice yield obtained by nonmembers (2.67 tons/ha) in the pooled results was found to be significantly higher than that of members (2.23 tons/ha). Income, savings, means of transportation and source of drinking water were similar among members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations. The study showed that the performance of members of Rice Farmers Associations varied from one State to another in the study area depending on the capacity of the associations to contribute to enhancement of their members‟ income. Major problems obstructing adoption of rice production technologies as identified by the respondents included difficulty in obtaining loans for purchase of farm inputs, low level of education, selling of rice to middlemen at poor price and poor access to machines for threshing, winnowing and milling. It is recommended that business development support should be given to Rice Farmers Associations to facilitate access to market information. In addition researchers and extension specialists should work with rice farmers using innovative approaches such as Farmers Field School to enhance better uptake of improved rice production technologies. <br></p>

Thesis Overview

<p><b>1.0 INTRODUCTION&nbsp;</b></p><p><b>1.1 Background to the Study&nbsp;</b></p><p>Agriculture is a major driver of economic growth in Nigeria with the involvement of 70% of the rural population in one form of production or the other and a contribution of about 40% to the Gross Domestic Product in 2010 (National Bureau of Statistic /Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2010/2011). Over the years, Nigerian farmers working under difficult circumstances have deployed their local knowledge and expertise in ensuring that they feed the nation. A combination of increasing population and degradation of natural resource base for agricultural production has stretched the use of traditional agricultural system by farmers to the limit (Nye and Greenland, 1960). Small scale farmers living in rural areas are the predominant producers of food in Nigeria. They still rely on traditional technology characterised by low productivity due to limited access to farm machines, fertiliser and improved seeds. According to the World Bank (2013), only 10 tractors are available per 100 hectares of farm land in Nigeria as compared to 241 tractors per 100 hectares in Indonesia. Fertiliser application in Nigeria is estimated at 13 kg per hectare while the fertiliser usage for the rest of the world is 100 kg per hectare (International Fertiliser Distribution Center, 2013). Analysis of the relative increase in crop yields by the World Bank (2013) in developing countries indicate that Nigeria crop yields have the lowest growth rate of 0.2% from 1968-2008 as against 1.2% for China, 2.3% for Indonesia and 3% for Malaysia. Ojehomon, Abo, Ojehomon, and Unkwungwu (2006) stated that when farmers use improved technologies in their physical and economic environment, there is a wide yield gap difference between the farmers‟ output and what the researchers obtained. The wide disparity in yield is partly due to incomplete adoption of the technology package which is associated with stepwise adoption pattern of farmers, risk consideration and scarcity of funds (Shakya and Flinn, 1985). This necessitated the development of improved agricultural production technologies and establishment of extension services across the nation to aid farmers in the production of food crops and to facilitate the attainment of food self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency in rice production has been a major focus of food policy goal of successive Nigerian Government in the last two decades due to deficit in rice production which has cost a substantial amount of foreign exchange to import rice into the country (Tiamiyu, Akintola, and Rahji., 2009). Erenstein, Lancon, Osiname and Kabbeh (2004), affirmed that Nigeria has witnessed a well established growing demand for rice as propelled by rising caput consumption and consequently the insufficient domestic production had to be complimented with enormous import both in quantity and value at various times. Notwithstanding, in spite of the efforts made in the past by successive Nigerian Government, the country is yet to become self-sufficient in rice production even though significant progress has been made in certain areas. Adesina (2014) reported that the need to achieve self sufficiency in food production is more pertinent in the rice sub-sector where the local consumption of the commodity is in excess of the quantity produced by farmers thus creating a demand for imported rice to meet the shortfall. Rapid population growth and urbanisation have significantly contributed to the increase in gap between supply and demand for rice in Nigeria. Rice consumption in the country is expected to reach 35 million tonnes by 2050 (Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2012). According to Adesina (2014), Nigeria is the second largest importer of rice in the world, spending about 356 billion Naira for about 2 million metric tonnes of imported milled rice; meaning that the sum of 1 billion Naira is spent on rice daily. The policy makers in the agricultural sector are keen to reverse the trend as there exists in the country the potential to raise local production to meet the demand for consumption of the commodity thereby saving foreign exchange and creating job opportunities especially among rural dwellers. Thus, Nigeria has developed the Agricultural Transformation Action Plan (ATAP) as a strategy for reducing rice importation to zero by the year 2015 (Adesina, 2014).&nbsp;</p><p><b>1.2 Problem Statement&nbsp;</b></p><p>In recent years, the Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development has expressed strong commitment to ensuring that rice production is accelerated to the level where the country becomes self-sufficient by 2015 Improved rice production technology has been widely recognised as a critical input for increasing rice production in the country. In view of this, efforts have been made by the Government of Nigeria to ensure that farmers across the country access improved production technology through extension services. Moreover, rice farmers are being encouraged to form commodity associations to enhance adoption of improved rice production technology and increased income through better access to extension services and critical farm inputs. This is based on the premise that rice farmers who are members of Rice Farmers Associations perform better than non-members.&nbsp; While Odoemenem and Obinne, 2010 reported superior performance of cooperative members over noncooperative members in terms of adoption of improved technology, Afolami, Obayolu, Agbonlahor and Lawal-Adebowale (2012) reported that there was no significant difference in the performance of cooperative and non-cooperative members in SouthWest Nigeria with respect to yield and profit. Another study among farmers in Abuja FCT (Ajah, 2012), reported that there was no significant difference in access to extension services and level of education among members and non-members of cooperative groups. On the basis of findings from past studies, there is a probability that members adopt more recommended practices and deliver better output with improved access to extension services and credit. On the other hand, it is also possible that there is no difference in the performance of both members and non-members and farmers associations exist in nomenclature only and are not involved in actual delivery of services that add value to their members.&nbsp;</p><p>In spite of the ambiguity around the issue, rice farmers in Nigeria are being encouraged to operate in groups or commodity associations to enhance the adoption of improved agricultural technologies. As far as rice production in Kaduna and Kano States is concerned, there is paucity of data validating or rejecting the premise that members perform better than non-members among rice farmers. It is against this backdrop that the study investigated the adoption of recommended practices on rice production and its effects on level of living of members and nonmembers of Rice Farmers Associations in Kano and Kaduna. It was anticipated that the study would provide answers to the following research questions:&nbsp;</p><p>i. What are the socio-economic and institutional characteristics of members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations in the study area?&nbsp;</p><p>ii. What are the sources of information on rice production in the study area?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>iii. What is the level of awareness of improved rice production technologies among members and non-members?&nbsp;</p><p>iv. What is the extent of adoption of improved rice production technologies among members and non-members?&nbsp;</p><p>v. What are the factors influencing the adoption of improved rice production technologies by members and non-members?&nbsp;</p><p>vi. What are the effects of adoption of improved rice production technologies on rice yield among members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations?&nbsp;</p><p>vii. What are the effects of adoption of improved rice production technologies on the level of living of members and non-members?</p><p>viii. What are the production constraints among rice farmers in the study area?&nbsp;</p><p><b>1.3 Objectives of the Study</b>&nbsp;</p><p>The broad objective was to investigate the adoption of improved rice production technologies on rice production and its effects on yield and level of living among members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations in the study area. The specific objectives of the study were to: i. describe the socioeconomic and institutional characteristics of members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations in the study area; ii. determine the sources of information on rice production among members and non-members; iii. assess the level of awareness of improved rice production technologies among members and non-members; iv. determine the extent of adoption of improved rice production technologies among members and non-members&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp; <b>1.4 Justification of the Study</b>&nbsp;</p><p>The rice value chain has been receiving considerable attention by the Federal Government in the last four years in an attempt to stimulate rice production and enhance national capacity in rice processing. For example, the Growth Enhancement Support scheme which is being implemented across the country is aimed at enhancing farmers‟ access to subsidised fertiliser and improved seeds. Moreover, modern rice processing mills have been installed in major rice clusters in the country. The study will provide empirical evidence on rice farmers‟ access to the GESS scheme in the study area. Moreover, Agricultural Extension specialists are responsible not only for facilitating farmers‟ access to crop production technologies from National Agricultural Research Systems but also for ensuring that empirical study is conducted to determine the benefits or otherwise of the adopted technologies and to ascertain the extent to which they have been adopted by farmers in the study area.</p><p> <b>1.5 Hypotheses</b>&nbsp;</p><p>i. There is no significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics and the adoption of improved rice production technologies by members and non-members.&nbsp;</p><p>ii. There is no significant difference in the adoption of improved rice production technologies by members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations.&nbsp;</p><p>iii. There is no significant difference in rice yield by members and nonmembers.&nbsp;</p><p>iv. There is no significant difference in the level of living of members and non-members of Rice Farmers Associations in the study area. &nbsp; <br></p>