DETERMINANTS OF IMPROVED MAIZE ADOPTION IN NIGERIA: ARE THEY THE SAME FOR POOR AND WELL ENDOWED HOUSEHOLDS?

Abstract

This paper examined the effects of wealth on households adoption of improved maize varieties in the dry savanna zone of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 350 maize producing households, and data were collected on household characteristics, productive assets, adoption status and maize production operations in the 2005/ 2006 production season using survey questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis and the tobit regression technique. Results showed that 62% of the households were poorly endowed and 38% well endowed. There were significant differences in the household characteristics of the two wealth groups. A larger proportion of the well-endowed households belonged to associations, had larger farm sizes, adopted more and cultivated larger areas to improved maize. About 68% of the households (56% poor- and 44% well- endowed) were adopters of improved maize varieties while 32% (75% poor- and 25% well- endowed) were non-adopters and variations existed in the adoption behaviour of poor- and well- endowed households. Extension contact, seed availability, yield potential and wealth determined the probability of adoption of improved maize among the poorly endowed, while membership of association, seed availability and resistance to pests/ diseases were determinants for the well-endowed. Hence, the availability of high yielding seed cuts across the two wealth groups as common determinants of improved maize adoption by the two wealth groups. Farmers' membership of association, farm size, seed availability, yield potential, and wealth significantly influenced the intensity of use of improved maize after adoption by the poorly endowed households, while extension contact, farm size, and labour had similar influence on the well-endowed. Thus, apart from wealth, developmental programmes that provide access to extension service, encourage social networking among farmers, promote effective seed delivery system and enhanced breeding programmes targeted at developing high yielding maize varieties, will promote improved maize adoption among rural households. These findings have implications for targeting new technologies to specific wealth groups for improved livelihood of farming households.