Factors Influencing Adoption of the New Rice for Africa Technologies by Smallholder Farmers in Selected Chiefdoms in Sierra Leone

Abstract

The study examined factors influencing adoption of NERICA rice production and post-harvest technologies by smallholder farmers in Magbema and Kaiyamba chiefdoms in Sierra Leone. The data were purposively obtained from 150 smallholder NERICA farmers through a multi-stage sampling procedure from NERICA farmers in both chiefdoms. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, analyzed with the aid of percentage and logistic regression. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers significantly influenced the adoption of recommended NERICA production technologies. For the post-harvest technologies, the R2 of 0.26 suggests that only the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers significantly influenced the adoption of the recommended NERICA post-harvest technologies. Contact with extension agents, promotion of a literacy drive to raise technological awareness among farmers, and timely input delivery to attract and sustain the farmers’ interest to adopt NERICA rice production and post-harvest technologies.