Analysis of Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Sesame Production Practices in Peri Urban Districts of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the awareness and use of improved sesame production practices in Peri-urban areas of Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select the respondents for the study from five districts that make up peri-urban areas of Dutse. Data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered to 165 respondents out of which only 159 were found to be useful. Data collected were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, means and ranking. Finding from the study revealed that the means of age was 38.7 years. All were male, 85% were married and 76.7% had formal education. The mean household size was 10 persons whereas the mean farm size and mean farming experience was 2.2 hectares and 14 years, respectively. About 59% do not belong to any association. The result of Logit regression analysis indicated that out of the twelve variables modelled and regressed as explanatory variables, only three were found to have significantly influenced the adoption of improved sesame production practices of the farmers. These are level of education (0.062), farm size (0.091) and access to credit (0.031). The main problems encountered by the respondents were lack of processing machines (71.7%), poor capital base (58.5%) and non-availability of loans to farmers (57.9%). The study recommended the formation of associations that could lead to taking advantage of such associations in aiding increased funding by governmental or non-governmental lending agencies and other financial institutions which could alleviate these major problems bedevilling sesame production in the study area.