ASSESSMENT ON THE USE OF IMPROVED MAIZE VARIETIES AMONG SMALL HOLDERS IN CHANCHAGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed the use of Improved Maize Varieties among smallholder farmers in Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. Four wards out of eleven (11) wards were purposively selected using multistage sampling techniques. Eighty (80) maize farmers were randomly selected from the study area. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result shows that farmers in the study area were young and active with the mean age of 40 years. Also, 66.95% of the farmers were male while 73.75% were married. The maize farmers were educated with 43.75% having tertiary education. The mean household size was eleven (11) persons, the mean farm size was 2ha with 37.50% of the farmland acquired through inheritance and mean annual income was ₦30, 242:75K. The study further revealed that 71.25% of the farmers were using the improved maize varieties with 81.25% awareness and 65% having awareness between 2-3 years. The improved maize varieties commonly used by the farmers were Pioneer Oba 98 maize variety, white maize (23.75%), DK818 maize variety yellow maize (18.75%) andDK920, yellow maize (11.25%). The constraints to use of improved maize varieties were: Lack of capital, shortage of farm labour, farm size, late supply, difficult to cultivate and lack of extension services. Farmers should form cooperatives; timely supply of improved maize seeds and provision of extension stationswere offered as recommendations.