Determinants of Yield Gap in Lowland Rice Production in North-Central Nigeria.

Abstract

Although Nigeria has comparative resource advantage in terms of favourable climatic, edaphic and ecological conditions in the production of rice, local production has not been able to meet the growing demand. The inability of the Nigerian rice economy to satisfy the domestic demand and the consequent growth of rice import quantity and value remains a cause of concern. The study analyzed the difference between potential and actual yield of rice in North Central Nigeria. Employing a multi-stage sampling technique, data were obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered to a sample of one hundred and forty four rice farmers in Niger state, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression models. Results indicated that rice farmers in the area cultivated four improved rice varieties WITA 4, FARO 15, FARO 35 and FARO 44 with average yield gaps of 1.48, 2.85, 3.03 and 3.20 tons per hectare respectively. This makes these rice varieties under-exploited as farmers operate at levels where they obtain an average of 49% of the potential yield. Factors which contribute to the reduction in the magnitude of rice yield gap include increase in the frequency of contacts between farmers and extension workers, increase in fertilizer use per hectare and higher intensity of tractor use. It was recommended that the yield potential of cultivated rice varieties should be fully exploited as a first option to meeting the current level of national rice demand because increased rice production towards the attainment of self-sufficiency may well hinge upon the ability of farmers to narrow the gap between current rice yields and yield potentials.

Irrigation management techniques with anaerobic baffled reactor effluent: effect on rice growth, yield and water productivity

“…The result of yield components such as number of filled grains per panicle and 1,000 grain weight agreed with the work of Pascual & Wang (2016) and Zhang et al (2010). FARO 44 (same rice variety with this study) has potential grain yield between 4.0 and 6.0 t/ha (Akintayo et al 2011). The grain yield of rice produced with the ABR effluent irrigation was averagely good when compared with that of the usual cultivation with fertilizer and rain-feeding (FARO 44 varieties) that produced 3.2 t/ha as reported by Akintayo et al (2011).…”

“…FARO 44 (same rice variety with this study) has potential grain yield between 4.0 and 6.0 t/ha (Akintayo et al 2011). The grain yield of rice produced with the ABR effluent irrigation was averagely good when compared with that of the usual cultivation with fertilizer and rain-feeding (FARO 44 varieties) that produced 3.2 t/ha as reported by Akintayo et al (2011). Average yields of 5.86 to 6.86 t/ha and 5.7 to 6.5 t/ha were reported by Oliver et al (2008) and Fonteh et al (2013) respectively.…”

Effects of Gmelina Arborea Bark and Azadirachta Indica Leaf Powders on Germination and Seedling Vigour of Corchorus Olitorius (Jute Mallow)

“…The experiment was conducted at Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Natural Science, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai Niger State situated in the middle belt (North Central) Zone of Nigeria and lies along latitude 80 0 and 110 0 , 30 0 East [AKINTAYO & al. 2011].…”

Spatial dependence in agricultural employment

“…Specifically, Akintayo et al (2010Akintayo et al ( & 2011 emphasized the inability of the Nigerian rice economy to satisfy the domestic demand and the consequent growth of rice import quantity and value remains a cause of concern. It was recommended that the yield potential of cultivated rice varieties should be fully exploited as a first option to meeting the current level of national rice demand because increased rice production towards the attainment of self-sufficiency may well hinge upon the ability of farmers to narrow the gap between current rice yields and yield potentials.…”