DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED MAIZE VARIETIES IN KANO-KATSINA-MARADI, WEST AFRICA

Abstract

The introduction of improved maize ( Zea mays L.) varieties has met with only partial success, as measured by rates of adoption. As such, efforts have been made by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to accelerate the process of maize seed adoption in Africa, through learning sites including the Kano-Katsina-Maradi (KKM PLS) in West Africa. The objective of this study was to ascertain the degree of success and factors affecting the adoption of improved maize seed varieties in the KKM PLS. The study used data from a midline survey sample of 1,800 households in 180 villages in the study area. Tobit regression model was used to identify the degree and characteristics important for adoption of improved maize seed varieties. Results indicated that affordability, knowledge on use and suitable packaging of technology were important adoption determinants. Other factors were gender, total farm size and extension agent visits. Households with older and more educated heads were also significantly more likely to adopt technologies.L\u2019introduction des vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es de ma\uefs ( Zea mays L.) a connu de succ\ue8s partiel, comme indiqu\ue9e par les taux d\u2019adoption. Ainsi, des efforts ont \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9s par l\u2019Institut International d\u2019Agriculture Tropicale (IITA) pour accel\ue9rer les processus d\u2019adoption des semences de ma\uefs en Africa, \ue0 travers les sites d\u2019apprentissage y compris le Kano-Katsina-Maradi (KKM PLS) en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de s\u2019assurer du degr\ue9 du succ\ue8s et les facteurs affectant l\u2019adoption des semences de vari\ue9tes am\ue9lior\ue9es de ma\uefs en KKM PLS. L\u2019\ue9tude a utilis\ue9 les donn\ue9es d\u2019un \ue9chantillon d\u2019enqu\ueate bas\ue9e sur une ligne m\ue9diane de 1800 m\ue9nages en 180 villages dans le milieu d\u2019\ue9tude. Le model de r\ue9gression de Tobi \ue9tait utlis\ue9 pour identifier le degr\ue9 et les caract\ue9ristiques importantes pour l\u2019adoption des semences de vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es de ma\uefs. Les r\ue9sultats ont montrr\ue9 que l\u2019 accessibilit\ue9, la connaissance sur l\u2019usage et un paquet technologique ad\ue9quat \ue9taient les plus importants d\ue9terminants d\u2019adoption. Les autres facteurs \ue9taient le genre, la superficie totale du champ et les visites des agents de vulgarisation. Les m\ue9nages avec des personnes plus ag\ue9es et plus instruites ont significativement plus de chance d\u2019adopter les technologies