THE IMPACT OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE VARIETIES ON FARMERS LIVELIHOOD IN SUMAILA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KANO STATE

Thesis Abstract

                 ABSTRACT 

Increasing the productivity of maize-based cropping systems has strategic importance for food security and socio-economic stability. This study assessed the impact on adoption of improved maize varieties on farmers‟ livelihood in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria. The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of the maize farmers, determined adoption rate of improved maize varieties by the farmers, determined the factors influencing adoption of improved maize varieties, determined the impact of adoption of improved maize varieties on income and livelihood of the adopters and non - adopters and identified the constraints encountered by the farmers in the adoption of improved maize varieties. Primary data were used for the study. A multi – stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of the respondents used for the study. The primary data were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 60 farmers. Descriptive statistics, adoption index and t – test were used for the analysis of data. The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers revealed that for age distribution, 33.3% of the maize farmers were between the ages of 35-44 years, 30.0% were between 25-34 years while 20.0% were between 45-54 years and 13.3% were between 55 years of age and above. For maize farming experience, 13.3% of maize farmers had 1-5 years, 30% had 6-10 years and 23.3% had 11-15 years, while 33.3% had 16 years and above. For educational status, non-formal education had the highest respondents with 30%, followed by primary level  with 26.7%, tertiary level had 23.3% while secondary level had the least with 20.0%. For farm size, 10.0% had farm size of 0.25 hectares, 23.3% had 0.5 hectares and 20% had 2 acres while 46.7% had above 1 hectare. For method of land acquisition, 66.7% of the farmers in the study areas respectively acquired their land through inheritance, 30.0% farmers acquired land through purchase while only 3.3% farmers leased/rented land for production purpose. For cooperative membership, 70% of respondents did not participate in any Cooperative Association while 30% participated as cooperatives members. The constraints to adoption of improved maize varieties in the study area were identified by the respondents, in order of their severity as first unavailability of improved seeds 46.7%, high fertilizer demand of IMV 20.0% was second, then high cost of improved seeds as the third constraint had 16.7%, awareness of seed classes 13.3% was the fourth and small size of landholding ranked the least (3.3%). The mean annual income of the adopters of improved maize varieties (N 184,200) is higher than the mean income of the non - adopters (N 54,750) (p<0.05) which implies that after the adoption of improved maize varieties farmers realized higher income and yield. Thus, it is recommended that adoption of improved maize varieties should be enhanced through the increased availability of improved maize varieties as some farmers are very much interested in cultivating these varieties but do not have access to them. The government and other Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) should do their part in creating awareness via radio and phone messages to facilitate the access and mobilize farmers to adopt the improved varieties so that farmers can improve their agricultural productivity and then improve their livelihood.