INFLUENCE OF IMPROVED OPEN POLLINATED MAIZE VARIETY ADOPTION ON LIVELIHOOD STATUS OF FARMERS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined influence of improved open pollinated maize variety adoption on the livelihood status of farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. To achieve the objectives of the study, 120 farmers were randomly selected from three (3) Local Government Areas in the State. Validated interview schedule with reliability co-efficient of 0.74 was used for data collection and analyzed using descriptive statistics, livelihood index and multiple regression analysis. Result showed that the mean age and mean farm size of the respondents was 34 years and 1.9 ha, respectively. Finding further indicated that 82.5% of the respondents were full adopters by cultivating improved maize variety in at least 10% of their total farm lands. The result also revealed that educational level, income, incentive and time of awareness positively and significantly influenced adoption of improved maize variety, which highly upshot the livelihood status of the respondents by about 70.0%. The study recommended that incentive such as free seed of improved varieties should be given to farmers for testing by the improved varieties’ promoters during awareness to facilitate adoption. It was also suggested that extension agents should synchronize awareness time with seasons of usage of the improved varieties to speed up the practical application of the improved varieties.