FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOPTION OF IMPROVED RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES BY COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES’ FARMERS IN BAUCHI AND GOMBE STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Rice Production Technologies by Cooperative Societies’ Farmers in Bauchi and Gombe States, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 524 respondents comprising of 262 members and 262 non-members of cooperative societies from both States. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that, the mean age of the respondents was 41years for the members and non-members in Bauchi State, while 41 and 42 years were the mean age in Gombe State for both categories of the respondents respectively, with the mean farming experience of 7 and 12 years in Bauchi State, while 9 and 10 years in Gombe State for both the members and non-members respectively. The results showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean household size among members and non-members in Bauchi State as the calculated Z-value (2.94) is higher than the tabulated Z-value (1.96). The trend was also similar in Gombe State where there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean household size among members and non-members as the calculated Z-value (2.70) is also higher than the tabulated Z-value (1.96). The results showed no significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean farm size among members and non-members in Bauchi State as the calculated Z-value (0.63) is lower than the tabulated Z-value (1.96). The trend wasn’t similar in Gombe State which showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between the mean farm size among members and non-members as the calculated Z-value (4.80) is higher than the tabulated Z-value (1.96). The results of logit regression revealed that, marital status, household size, income and participation in training were positive and significant (P˂0.01), while educational level and extension visit were positive and significant (P˂0.05) in influencing the adoption of improved rice production technologies among members of rice cooperative societies. In addition, age was negative but significant (P<0.001) in influencing the adoption of improved rice production technologies (IRPTs) among non-members of rice cooperatives in the study area. Household size, Farming experience and participation in training were found to have a positive relationship with the adoption of IRPTs and statistically significant (P<0.05). It was concluded that the factors influencing the likelihood of adoption of IRPTs among members of rice cooperatives were better than that of the non-members in the study area. The study therefore recommends that, farmers should form formidable cooperative societies so as to enjoy economies of scale in pooling their resources to purchase farm inputs.