DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) PRACTICES AMONG MALE RICE FARMERS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed gender adoption of SRI practices in Kano State, Nigeria. Multi - stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 286 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that middle-aged, married, and moderately educated male farmers dominate rice farming in the study area. Majority (76.9%) of the respondents were aged 40-49 years, married and had household sizes of 5-8 persons. Nearly half (48.2%) had small-scale farms of ≤1.5 hectares, with majority (86.7%) being cooperative members. Education was moderately high, with 32.5% having secondary education, enhancing their ability to adopt System of Rice Intensification (SRI) practices. Majority (87.76%) accessed agricultural information through radio, while 66.78% utilized the internet, showing growing digital reliance. The results of  logistic regression  revealed that sex (P<0.01), education level (P<0.01), cooperative membership (P<0.05), marital status (P<0.05), and organic fertilizer (P<0.10)  were the factors that significantly   influenced the adoption of SRI . The major constraints to adoption of SRI include socio-economic pressures (household size, education), economic barriers (low profitability, limited inputs), environmental challenges (flooding, pests), technical issues (labour-intensive practices), and institutional factors (inadequate training, poor market access) with percentage variance of 3.72%, 3.43%, 2.98%, 2.46% and 2.41% respectively. The study concludes that sex, level of education, membership of association and occupation were the determinants of adoption of SRI among male farmers in the study area. The study  recommended that  adult education programs, training on SRI practices, policies for organic fertilizer subsidies, enhanced pest control measures, and improved financial access through cooperatives.