Production of rice as a staple food in Nigeria, is still faced with challenges; rise in productivity can partly be achieved when farmers are ready to embrace innovations like System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The study assessed the perception and willingness of Farmer-field school (FFS) participants to potentially adopt the Systems of rice intensification (SRI) practices at the Bakolori irrigation scheme, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling was used to sample 307 Farmer Field-School (FFS) participants for the study. Questionnaire was used to collect data and FGD was held with some of SRI FFS participants. Results from the study indicated the average age of the respondents was 43 years, average household size of 10 people, farming experience of 20 years and a farm size of 2 hectares. The high percentage (68%) of the respondents shows their willingness to adopt all the SRI practices. Innovation characteristics of SRI were perceived high (composite mean=3) Observability (4.469) Trailability (3.314) Relative advantage (3.158) Complexity (3.135) compatibility (2.860) was viewed low. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age (P<0.05:0.042) and knowledge (P<0.05:0.012) were significant, which further indicates an influence on the willingness to adopt SRI practices. In conclusion, the most severe challenge faced was inadequate SRI recommended tools and machines; therefore, the TRIMING project should make these tools and machines available to encourage adoption. Farmers should also make efforts to purchase the tools and machines especially through their cooperatives.
Zainab Galadima Ibrahim (Tue,) studied this question.
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