Bichi Journal of Technology Education (BIJOTE)

ISSN: (PRINT): 2006-9715; (ONLINE: 2735-9514) Volume 6, Issue 3 (December, 2022), PP 53 – 59

PERCEPTION OF SMALL-SCALE RICE FARMERS ON

SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING
ADOPTION OF INNOVATION IN
GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA
Sani Yakubu Gombe, PhD
sanigombe925@gmail.com; +2348036298053

Department of Educational Foundation,

School of Education,
Federal College of Education (Technical),
Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examined socioeconomic factors affecting adoption of innovation by small–scale rice farmers in
Gombe State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of validated and structured questionnaire administered on
180 randomly selected small-scale rice farmers based on their socioeconomic characteristics, adoption of improved
technology in rice production and constraints to adoption of improved technologies in the production cycle. Data
were analyzed using percentages, frequency tables, mean scores and ordinary least square (OLS) regression
technique. The result showed that the farmers were mostly low income earners, aged, male dominated and with farm
holdings of less than one hectare. There were high adoption rates of organic fertilizer, weed control by cover crops
and crude tools are used for cultivation. On the other hand, adoption of inorganic fertilizer, chemical pest, weed
control and use of hybrid Rice seedlings were low. The findings also revealed that constraints to adoption included;
poor extension contact, poor access to land, scarcity of farm inputs and unawareness of technologies. There is lack
of planting materials and access to funds among small scale rice farmers in Gombe state. The study recommended
government and agro-allied companies to employ more extension workers, it will help in educating the local people
on the importance of using improved or hybrid seedlings and making lands available to farmers.

Key words: adoption, farmers, Gombe, innovation, rice, small-scale

I. INTRODUCTION
Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, create sustainable
employment opportunities and boost prosperity towards feeding the entire world. Agriculture is very crucial
to economic growth. According to FAO (2021) agriculture accounts for 22.35% of gross domestic product
(GDP) in Nigeria. There are quite a number of studies that have indicated that agricultural production in
Nigeria is still characterized by small farm holdings (Obinyan, 2000; Taiwo et al., 2015). The
socioeconomic characteristics of the small farm holders have crucial influence on agricultural production.
Some studies have suggested that food production could be affected by the farmers’ age, access to credit,
gender, farm size, educational level and farming experience (Onoh et al., 2020).
Rice is one of the world’s most important food crops. It is cultivated throughout the tropical belts of Africa,
Asia and Latin America. It is widely traded internationally (Byerlee et al., 2017). It produces more when
given adequate management practices per unit of land than any other crop. As a result of this and many
other comparative advantage, rice is commonly used for direct human consumption as food and as an
ingredient in many processed foods and other industrial products (Corley & Tinker, 2016). The global area
under rice production has increased from less than 15 million hectares in 1980 to more than 70 million
hectares in 2018 (FAO 2019).
Nigeria is currently rated as one of the leading producer of rice in the world, even though there has been a
noticeable decline since 1965 as a result of the discovery of crude oil. By 1966, other competing countries
such as Malaysia and Indonesia surpassed Africa’s total rice production (FAO, 2011). Nigeria has never
noticed mobilization, education, sensitization, funding and other support services in rice production more

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Perception of Small-Scale Rice Farmers on Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation in
Gombe State, Nigeria

than what was received from 2015-2022 (FMARD, 2022). Rice production in Nigeria rose from 4.89 metric
tons in 2020 to 5.0 million metric tons in 2021 (USDA, 2022). To boost the production further, Federal
Government of Nigeria closed its borders, banned importation of rice, and created windows for encouraging
farmers to boost local production, while consumers are strongly advised to consume local rice.
In the last six years, the production remained stable with sharp increase over to five million metric tons.
Nigeria is one of the leading top three producers of rice in Africa and among the top 20 worldwide (Varrella,
2021). From being one of the leading importers of rice in the 1990ss, Nigeria became a net exporter in
2021. In a bid to close the supply gap and encourage local investment, the Federal Government included
rice among other cereal crops, as one of the items that importers were restricted from accessing foreign
exchange at the interbank market (Guardian Newspaper, 23rd June, 2019). The CBN introduced the
Anchor-Borrowers program.
The program was meant to provide single – digit interest rate on loans to farmers through the Deposit
Money Banks and other participating financial institutions. For the rice sector, the interest on loan facility
was put at 6-9% per annum. Moreover, in 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria also mandated CBN to
support corporate bodies and individuals that were engaged in production of ten (10) specified
agricultural commodities including rice. However, despite all these efforts from the main actors
(government agencies) and non-actors (farmer groups and NGOs), there is high outcry of increase in price
of the commodity at local markets. The farmers also complain on the cost of inputs and the bureaucracy in
the supply chain. In view of the above, this paper examined the perception of small-scale rice farmers on
socioeconomic factors affecting adoption of innovation in Gombe state, Nigeria.

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study was to examine the perception of small-scale rice farmers on socio-
economic factors affecting adoption of innovation in Gombe state, while the specific objectives is:
1. To describe the socio-economic characteristics of small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state.
2. To determine level of adoption of innovation by small-scale rice producers in Gombe state.
3. To identify major constraints affecting adoption of innovation among small-scale rice producers in
Gombe state.
4. To determine the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and adoption of innovation
among small scale rice farmers in Gombe state.

Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated to guide the study.
1. What is the nature of socio-economic characteristics of small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state?
2. What is the level of adoption of innovation by small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state?
3. What are the major constraints affecting adoption of innovation among small-scale rice producers
in Gombe state?

Research Hypothesis
H0: there is no significant relationship between the socioeconomic variables and adoption of innovation
among small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state.

II. METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted in Gombe State, Nigeria. The state is made up of Eleven Local Government
Areas, namely; Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Dukku, Funakaye, Gombe, Kaltungo, Kwami, Nafada, Shongom,
and Yamaltu Deba. All the LGAs are agriculturally viable for rice production proportionately. The state
has a mass area of 18.768km2 and a population of 3.25m (NPC, 2006). The study area experiences two
major climatic seasons: the rainy season (March to October) and a four month dry season (November and
February). The people are predominantly Fulani, Hausa, Tangale, Tera and Bolewa. The major economic
activities include farming, trading, craft making and processing. A total sample of 187 small scale rice

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Perception of Small-Scale Rice Farmers on Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation in
Gombe State, Nigeria

farmers was drawn through multi-stage sampling technique from a population of about 2,998 farmers. One
rice production community was purposely selected and 17 small scale rice farmers were randomly selected
from each community representing each LGA. Seventeen farmers were randomly selected from each
community to give a total of 187 farmers for the study, however, the valid responses retrieved was 180, and
hence the analysis was based on 180 valid respondents. The data used were collected using structured
questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive (percentages, frequency tables and mean
scores) and inferential (ordinary least square regression model) statistical tools.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1: Distribution of farmers based on socioeconomic characteristics (n=180)
Variable Frequency (f) Percentage (%) Mean Score
Age (years)
21 – 30 11 6.11
31 – 40 30 16.67 51.36
41 -50 38 21.11
51 -60 52 28.89
61 – 70 43 23.89
>70 6 3.33

Gender
Male 152 84.44
Female 28 15.56

Household size
1–5 37 20.56
6 – 10 65 36.11 9.14
11 and above 78 43.33

Educational level
No formal education 14 7.78
Primary education 38 21.11
Secondary education 47 26.11
NCE/OND 36 20.00
B.SC/HND 24 13.33
Masters/PhD 5 6.67

Farming Experience
1-5 40 22.22
6-10 58 32.22 9.17
11 and above 82 45.56

Farm Size (Ha)

>1 177 0.66
1-2 3
>2 0
Annual income (₦)
1.000 – 100. 000 36 20.00
100.001 – 200.000 95 52.50 112.255.4
200.001 – 300.000 32 17.50
Above 300.000 17 10.00

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Perception of Small-Scale Rice Farmers on Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation in
Gombe State, Nigeria

Research Question 1: Socio-economic characteristics of small-scale farmers

The socioeconomic characteristics of small-scale rice farmers analyzed included age, sex, annual income,
education, household size, farming experience and farm size. The result revealed that majority (84.44%)
were males with mean household size of 9 persons. Also a good number of the farmers (26.11%) had
secondary school education with a mean annual income of N112, 255.40 and farming experience of 9 years
respectively. Their mean farm size was only 0.66 hectares as depicted in Table 1. This implies that the
farmers were mostly low income earners, aged, male dominated and farm size less than one hectare. The
result agrees with the findings of similar studies on the socioeconomic characteristics of rural farmers in
Nigeria. Onasis et al., (2009) asserted that rice production in Nigeria is male dominated and in very small
plots of farm holdings less than one hectare. Nnadi et al., (2012) also stated that Nigerian farmers are aged
with very low income. Similarly, Fasina, et al., (2020) concluded that education is important to the
improvement of agricultural productivity such that formal education opens the farmers’ mind and expand
their quench for knowledge and skills. They stated that with good education, farmers will possess improved
decision-making skills and hence better manage resources to exploit farms of various sizes.

Table 2: Level of adoption of innovation among small-scale rice farmers

Improved Technologies Very High High Low Mean score
Polybag nursery practice 40 67 73 1.82
Hybrid oil palm seedling 28 70 82 1.70
2 meters square planting 33 82 50 1.91
Weed control by cover crop 100 52 28 2.40
Chemical weed control 73 82 25 2.27
Biological weed control 24 59 97 1.59
Chemical Pest control 36 33 111 1.58
Inorganic Fertilizer Use 15 71 94 1.56
Organic Fertilizer Use 85 73 22 2.35
Harvesting with Chisel 59 89 32 2.15
Harvesting with crude tools 94 59 28 2.36
Local Processing 84 65 31 2.29
Use of Modern Processing 41 70 69 1.84

Research Question 2: Level adoption of improved technology among small-scale rice farmers in
Gombe state
Table 2 shows how various innovations are adopted by small scale rice farmers. The analysis indicates that
weed control by cover crop, harvesting with crude tools, use of organic fertilizer and local processing had
high adoption rates with mean values of 2.40, 2.36, 2.35 and 2.29 respectively, while use of inorganic
fertilizer, chemical pest control, biological weed control and use of hybrid rice seedlings had low adoption
rates. Gere et al., (2020) stated that farmers’ knowledge and value of innovation influence their adoption
behavior. The higher farmers’ level of awareness, the higher their adoption. Agwu (2006) on the other hand,
chemical pest control saw low adoption behavior due to high cost, unavailability of improved planting
materials and complexity of some of the innovations. In addition, adoption of innovation is highly facilitated
by level of clientele knowledge and skills (Gere et al., 2020).

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Perception of Small-Scale Rice Farmers on Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation in
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Table 3: Major constraints to adoption of improved technologies in Rice production.

Constraints to adoption SA A D SD Mean Remark
Not aware of innovation 39 52 58 31 2.55 Agree
Lack of fund 61 42 32 45 2.43 Disagree
Poor extension contact 82 28 39 31 2.89 Agree
Poor access to land 44 70 38 27 2.74 Agree
Scarcity of farm inputs 47 37 69 26 2.59 Agree
Lack of planting materials 29 41 45 65 2.19 Disagree

Research Question 3: Major Constraints in adoption of improved technologies in Rice production

Table 3 shows that poor extension contact, poor access to land, scarcity of farm inputs and unawareness of
innovation were the major constraints to adoption of innovation in small-scale rice production with mean
values of 2.89, 2.74, 2.59 and 2.55 respectively. On the other hand, lack of planting materials and access to
fund with mean values of 2.19 and 2.43 respectively were not among the major constraints to adoption of
innovation as expressed by small-scale farmers. The result corroborated with the findings of Gere et al.,
(2020) who saw access to land and high cost of inputs as constraints to adoption of innovation among
farmers in Nigeria. Asiabaka et al., (2001) similarly expressed the need for farmers to be fully aware of an
improved technology before adoption and recommendation to others. FAO (2021) reported that poor
extension services is the major challenge faced in adoption of innovation in Nigeria. The reports shows a
ratio of 1 extension worker to 5000 farmers in majority of the Nigerian farming communities and poor
technology usage among them.

Table 4: Analysis of relationship between socioeconomic variables and adoption of new technologies
among small-scale rice farmers
Explanatory Variables Linear Function Exponential Function Semi-log function Double Log
function
X1 (Age) 0.000(5.113)** 0.009(2.088)* 0.000(3.333)* 0.000(2.666)**
X2 (Gender) 10.450(0.081)* 0.000(3.884)** 0.005(2.143 ) 0.000(1.799)
X3 (Household size) 0.000(2.049)* 0.005(2.355)* 0.009(5.855) 0.006(2.232)*
X4 (Education level) 0.002(2.673)** 1.900(1.529) 0.015(2.091)** 0.000(1.989)*
X5 (Farming exp.) 0.006(2.183)* 0.000(2.252)* 0.000(5.559)** 0.000(4,032)**
X6 (Farm Size) 0.000(3.953) 0.000(1.995) 0.000(2.074)* 0.006(2.383)*
X7 (Income Level) 0.002(3.993)** 0.001(5.575)** 0.000(4.001)** 0.000(2.440)
Constant 34.11 30.30 31.22 27.81
R2 0.710 0.669 0.741 0.690
F-Value 22.33 20.71 27.22 21.66
N (No. of observation) 180 180 180 180

H0: there is no significant relationship between the socioeconomic variables and adoption of new
technologies among small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state.
The estimates of the ordinary least square regression analysis of relationship between socioeconomic
characteristics and level of adoption of innovation among small-scale rice farmers (Table 4) showed that
the lead equation used was semi-log functional form. It has the highest number of significant variables, R2
value of 0.741 which implies that about 74% of the variation in adoption of innovation was determined by
the socio-economic characteristics. The coefficient of age (t=3.333), educational level (t=2.091), farming
experience (t= 5.559), farm size (t = 2.074) and income level (t= 4.001) were significant at P < 0.001 and
P > 0.05 critical levels.
The coefficient of age was directly related to adoption which implies that as the farmers get older, their
level of adoption gets increased. With good education, farmers will possess improved decision - making

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Perception of Small-Scale Rice Farmers on Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovation in
Gombe State, Nigeria

skills and hence, better manage resources to exploit farms of various sizes. This findings supported Onoh
et al. (2020) when he posits that level of education positively influences adoption innovation in rice
production. However, the result is in contrast with the works of Ibekwe et al. (2010) who found a negative
relationship between age and farm income in the Southeast Nigeria. They argue that the older the farmers,
the weaker they become and the harder they become in accepting change. Consequently, they may not have
enough energy to engage in farming activities given that agricultural activities in the areas were labor
intensive and that most of the farmers do not have sufficient funds to hire workers. This implies there is
significant relationship between socio-economic characteristics and adoption of innovation among small-
scale rice farmers in Gombe state.

IV. CONCLUSION
The small-scale rice farmers in Gombe state were mostly low income, aged, male dominated, has farm size
of less than one hectare and they use crude tools in their farming practices. There is poor extension contact,
poor access to land, scarcity of farm inputs and unawareness of technologies were the major constraints to
adoption of innovation in rice production. There is significant relationship between socio-economic
characteristics and adoption of innovation among small-scale rice farmers, with age having the highest
coefficients. The study thus recommends for attention to be paid towards educating the local people on the
importance of using improved or hybrid seedlings and making lands available to farmers.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the findings, the following recommendations are suggested:
1. Government and other concern stakeholders should invest more in rice farming through subsidizing
inputs and making production cycle lucrative to encourage youth engage in any of the rice value chain.
2. Women groups should design a mechanism of encouraging women to join rice farming at both
individual and group level.
3. Government and relevant stake holders should employ more extension agents to reduce the ratio gap
and adopt use of media and other technological gadgets that will increase contact between small-scale
rice farmers and the agents.
4. Small-scale farmers should form cooperative societies to enable them access credit facilities from
lending agencies without interest and with long repayment period.

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