NERICA INNOVATION: A TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED RICE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY IN MIDDLE-BELT OF NIGERIA

• M. O. Nosiru

  Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

  Author

• M. A. Y. Rahji

  Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

  Author

• T. O. Agboola

  Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

  Author

Nigeria has huge demand-supply gap and self-insufficiency for rice due to low productivity. The New Rice for Africa (NERICA) variety has been developed to enhance farmers' productivity and reduce the demand-supply gap. Hence, the level of efficiency and productivity of NERICA farmers in Nasarawa and Niger States of Nigerian Middle Belt were investigated. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of 164 rice farmers that adopted NERICA innovation in the study area. The two states were selected because they were the states in the middle belt that partook in the Participatory Varietals Selection (PVS) trials organized by West African Rice Development Agency (WARDA) in 1999 and 2001. Data were collected on farmers' socio-economic characteristics, input of NERICA technologies and output levels. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cobb-Douglas production function and Ordinary Least Square. Labour, seeds, fertilizers and herbicides had positive influence on output. The extension contact, credit utilization, commercialization level, adoption level, household size and cooperative membership influenced total factor productivity, average productivity and marginal productivity. Most of the farmers were operating at increasing returns to scale. It was recommended that rice production could be improved through institutionalization of programs that would accelerate promotion and adoption of NERICA innovation technology in the country. Proper implementation of NERICA innovation program has potential to bring about improvement in rice farmers' efficiency and productivity.

1. M. O. Nosiru, Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

   Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

2. M. A. Y. Rahji, Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

   Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

3. T. O. Agboola, Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

   Dept. of Agricultural Science, Tai Solarin University of Education, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Dept. of Agricultural Economics & Extension, Osun State University, Nigeria

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