FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF DRY SEASON RICE FARMING IN EDU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assessed farmers’ perception and knowledge level on dry season rice farming. Identified constraints to its practice. A two-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 131 respondents on which an interview schedule was administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation. Results reveal that the respondents were poorly schooled, mostly full-time rice farmers with a mean age of 49 years. Averagely annual income from rice farming was about ₦400,000 ($1,111). Respondents had a slightly high positive perception (MS=3.08) but low knowledge of dry season rice farming. Absence of irrigation facilities was identified as the major constraint to dry season rice farming. At p<0.01, knowledge level of farmers (r=0.241), and their farm sizes (r=0.268) had significant relationship with farmers’ perception of dry season rice farming. The study concluded that although rice farmers in the study area had a slightly high positive perception of dry season rice farming, their knowledge of it was low. It recommends training of farmers on the agronomic practices involved in dry season rice farming.