Determinants of Adoption of Improved Technologies in Rice Production in Imo State, Nigeria

In Imo State, an increasing number of improved rice production technologies and management techniques have been introduced to rice farmers across the State. Despite the introduction of the rice production technologies, rice production continues to be low. This study therefore analyzed factors associated with adoption of improved rice production technologies in Imo State of Nigeria. Random sampling technique was used in selecting one hundred and thirty (135) rice farmers from the communities where rice is produced in the State. Data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and logit regression. The result obtained shows that 73.33, 67.41, 78.52, 86.67 and 45.4% of the rice farmers adopted improved rice varieties, use of agrochemicals, fertilizer application, optimum seed rate, and mechanical harvesting, respectively. Farmers’ socioeconomic factors such as age, income, cooperative membership, household size, level of education, farm size and number of contacts with extension agents affected adoption. These key factors need to be taken into consideration when expanded program on technology adoption is to be considered. Key words: Adoption, rice production technologies, farmers, socioeconomic determinants, Imo State, Nigeria.