Abstract

Wole Innocent Kuti

The paper examines the level of awareness and identified the various improved maize varieties (IMVs) cultivated in Osun state, Nigeria. It also analyzed the socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption and intensity of use of improved maize varieties. A multistage sampling design was used to select 360 farming households that were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data collected included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of respondents such as age, household size, gender, farm size and other improved maize production related activities. Descriptive statistics and double hurdle model were used as analytical tools. Results showed that the level of awareness of improved maize varieties was 97.8%. About 91% of these estimates were adopters while 8.8% were non adopters. The double hurdle model estimates showed that age (t=4.50, p<0.05), level of education (t=3.33, p<0.05), farming experience (t=4.33, p<0.05), household size (t=2.18, p<0.05), farm size (t=4.02, p<0.05), and household’s distance to market (t=2.26, p<0.05) were significant determinants of adoption of IMVs while age of respondents (t=2.31, p<0.05), level of education (t=2.27, p<0.05), household size (t=2.79, p<0.05), farm size (t=2.51, p<0.05), frequency of contact with extension agent (t=10.46, p<0.05), off farm income (t=2.19, p<0.05), and membership in association (t=2.46, p<0.05) determined use intensity of improved maize varieties. The study concluded that policies that increase farmers’ level of education and effectiveness of extension services contact will facilitate adoption and use intensity of improved maize varieties.