Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Varieties of Sorghum, Millet, Groundnut and Sesame in North Kordofan State

This study was carried out with the objective of analyzing the factors affecting adoption of improved varieties of sorghum, millet, groundnut and sesame by farmers in three localities of Sheikan, Umrawaba and Elrahad in the North Kordofan State. Data for this study was primarily from farm household surveys conducted in seven seasons (2006/2007 to 2014/2015) in three localities of Sheikan, ElRahad and Um Rawaba in North Kordofan State. A random sample of 794 households was randomly drawn from different villages in the study area. Multi-stage random approach was adopted. Log it model, used to assess the factor affecting adoption of improved varieties in the study area. Results show that Adoption degrees of the improved varieties varied considerably from year to year depending on availability and distribution of improved varieties. Logit regression analysis showed that family members male (P<0.073*), female participated in the farm work (P< 0.060*), knowledge about the technology package (P<0.052*), availability of improved varieties (P<0.018*) and participation on training ((P<0.029**) were the most influential factors that significantly lead to adoption of the improved varieties of sorghum. Factors which positively affected farmers’ decision to adoption improved varieties of millet were education (0.016) ,attending training (0.223) ,family members male (0.004) and sex of HH (0.198). Log it regression analysis showed that male Family members participated in the farm work (P< 0.012***), knowledge about the technology package (P<0.035**), availability of improved varieties (P< 0.000***) and participated on training (P<0.021**) were the most influential factors that significantly lead to adoption the improved varieties of groundnut. Log it regression analysis showed that female family members (P<0.054*), participation in training (P<0.056*), farm income (P<0.030*) and rented labors (P<0.015***) were found to be the most influential factors that significantly lead to adoption the improved varieties of sesame. Introduction Agricultural research and technological improvements are therefore crucial to increase agricultural productivity and thereby reduce poverty and meet demands for food without irreversible degradation of the natural resource base. Agricultural research and technological improvements are also crucial in reducing poverty. Barriers to technology adoption, initial asset endowments, and constraints to market access may all inhibit the ability of the poorest to get a share in the gains from agricultural productivity growth. This agricultural productivity growth can also be driven by improved farm technologies, including improved seeds, fertilizer, and water control [1]. Problem statement In general, agricultural production and productivity could be increased by allocation of more resources to agriculture and improvement of agricultural technology which requires more investment in education, health and infrastructure. In the context of Sudan profile, various governments have declared a policy aiming at self-sufficiency in food. The means towards achieving this objective has always been an expansion in cultivated area and/or improvement in yield. A main feature of farming in North Kordofan is continuous deterioration in the natural resources base and production. Such deterioration has resulted from various influential factors, among them are poor genetic resources, biophysical factors including topography, low rainfall, soil quality, insect, diseases. Objectives of the study The overall objective of this research is to measure adoption of improved varieties on the yields of sorghum, millet, groundnut and sesame, this research also aims to achieve the following specific objectives: