Factors Affecting the Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in Borno State, Nigeria

The study investigated the factors that affect adoption of improved rice varieties in the southern part of Borno state, Nigeria. The research involved 120 respondents and 12 farmers groups from three districts that were randomly selected. Questionnaire was used to collect data which were interpreted using frequency table, percentage, chi-square and cluster analysis. Comparison of the significance results between the individual locations was done to look for the individual differences. Focus group was used to explore some of the issues in greater detail. The result of the analysis showed that (44%) were fast adopters, (35%) slow adopters and (21%) were non-adopters. The findings revealed that access to improved rice seed (47.38***), access to credit (17.70***), contact with extension agents (247.59***) and membership of farmer's association (24.65***) are highly significant while age (16.05*) and farming experience (16.84*) are also significant to adoption of improved rice varieties in the area. Farmer's groups also mentioned that lack of a medium maturing variety and a thresher are amongst their most important problems. This challenges present implication for developing different technologies and support system that take such variance in to account or government will keep on spending a huge resources that will not give a good results and also a threat to food security.