An Assessment of the Factors Influencing Maize Farmers’ Perception and Adoption of Organic Farming Practices in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study used Heckman's analytical method to evaluate the impact on corn farmers' perception and adoption of organic farming practices. A multi-stage method was used to select 222 breeders and data collected from a semi-structured survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics (such as frequency, percentage, mean) and Hackman's two-stage selection model. The results showed that farmers in the study area were mostly male (70.3%), educated (62.6%), and had an average age of 35.8 years. Additionally, the fact that the majority of farmers were in favor of organic agriculture resulted in the approval of eight (8) of the 15 agreements in the region. Practices applied are: return of straw to the field (83.8%), mixing (79.7%), mixed tillage (73.0%), hoeing/reduced tillage (66.2%), hoeing/hand weeding (61.3%) and crop rotation (61.3%). 59.9%, slash and burn plants (54.1%) and farm manure (53.2%). The results of Heckman's two-stage analysis show evidence of sample selection problems where rho is different from zero, while lambda and efficiency (Wald chi2 = 40.51) are significant at 10% and 1% respectively. From the selection model, farmers' views on the use of traditional methods are positively influenced by socio-economic factors such as age, education, agriculture, access to extension services, similar benefits and income, while gender and family size are associated with understanding. In the outcome (adoption) model, the results showed that agricultural education and livestock production increased, with small farmers more likely to adopt organic farming than large farmers. Therefore, the culture of maize farmers in Niger is neutral and mostly influenced by the culture of the farmers. Therefore, it is recommended that agricultural suppliers provide sufficient amounts of organic material to corn producers and extension organizations that will train farmers regularly