Determinants of adoption of short season soybean (Glycine max) (L.) varieties in the Sudan Savannas of Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the level of adoption of short season early-maturing soybean varieties in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zones of the Nigeria savannas. The study identified determinants of adoption of short-season early maturing soybean varieties. It was conducted on a sample of 600 farming households from 20 communities in Bunkure and Shanono Local Government Areas in Kano State. Descriptive (frequencies and graphs) and inferential (Regression) statistics were used for analysis. Results revealed high level of adoption in 2015 (73.5%) compared with adoption level of less than 20% in 2008. The determinants of adoption of improved soybean varieties using both Probit and Tobit regression analysis revealed household size, keeping of livestock, access to market information at p<0.01, participation in Sudan Savanna taskforce project at p<0.05, extension contact, distance to soybean seed, yield, shattering, disease resistance, high cash earned as a result of sale of crop and earliness at (p<0.10) were revealed as factors influencing probability and extent of adoption. It was therefore recommended that farmers should be encouraged to participate fully in projects’ activities implemented by any development partner to allow them to take ownership and for easy uptake of technology packages that benefits them. Key words: Adoption, determinants, short season soybean, sudan savannas.