Changing rice farmers' technology adoption behaviour in Ekiti and Ogun states, Nigeria: implications for sustainable increase in rice production

Agricultural transformation in Nigeria requires serious utilisation of improved technology. However, unfavourable technology adoption behaviour among rice farmers led to low technology adoption, insufficient rice production as well as increased importation of the crop into the country. This study, therefore, examines factors influencing farmers’ technology adoption behaviour in the study areas, with the hope of changing farmerd’ behaviour to intensifying technology adoption and increased farm productivity. Qualitative method of data collection was used. The result showed that the technology adoption behaviour of rice farmers in the two states were not completely voluntary. Farmers’ technology adoption behaviour is dependent on some factors which include conformation of the technology to the existing farm practices of the farmers, socio-economic factors, institutional factors and motivational factors. Eliminating factors that militate against technology adoption is tantamount to changing farmers’ behaviour towards increase technology adoption and intensify rice production.