Legume Genomics and Genetics 2015, Vol.6, No.6, 1-9
1
Research Report Open Access
Effect of Adoption of Improved Soybean Variety on Productivity of Farm
Households in Benue State, Nigeria
Obasoro O.A. , Iwinlade A., Popoola O., Adeoti A.I
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Corresponding author email: Email:
Legume Genomics and Genetics, 2015, Vol.6, No.6 doi: 10.5376/lgg.2015.06.0006
Received: 17 Sep., 2015
Accepted: 20 Oct., 2015
Published: 26 Oct., 2015
Copyright
©
2015
Obasoro et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Obasoro O.A.,Iwinlade A., Popoola O., and Adeoti A.I., 2015, Effect of Adoption of Improved Soybean Variety on Productivity of Farm Households in Benue
State, Nigeria, Legume Genomics and Genetics, Vol.6, No.6, 1
-
9 (doi:
10.5376/lgg.2015.06.0006
)
Abstract
The study examines the effect of adoption of improved soybean variety on Farmer’s productivity in Benue State, Nigeria.
A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 267 respondents for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, gross margin analysis and the Heckman selection model.
Result shows that most household heads were male with a mean age of 36±10 years and a mean household size of 5±3 members. The
awareness characteristics revealed that the TG X 1987-10 F soybean variety was the technology adopted in the study area. Majority
of the farmers were aware (95.2%) of the improved soybean variety and mostly got their information from extension agents. The
economic profitability of the production shows that the average cost incurred on labour was ₦177,091.29 per hectare and constituted
the highest proportion (61%) of the total cost of production of the crop. The gross margin and the net revenue per hectare were
₦22,018.44 k and ₦311,779.59 k.
The Heckman model results revealed that the probability of adoption of the improved soybean variety is influenced by the age of the
farmer, gender, dependency ratio and early maturity of the variety while the second stage revealed that the household size, farm
experience, membership of cooperative, education and access to credit by these farmers influence the effect of adoption on yield.
It is therefore recommended that government should improve the education of rural farmers through adult education since education
positively affects adoption of improved soybean and the yield of these farmers, set up and implement rural welfare schemes to make
credit facilities readily available to farmers and strengthen extension service.
Keywords
Adoption; Improved soybean variety; Gross margin; Heckman model; Benue state
Introduction
The Agricultural sector is an important component of
Nigerian economy with over 70% of the population
engaged in agriculture and agricultural related
activities. The sector is almost entirely dominated by
small scale resource poor farmers living in rural areas,
with farm holdings of 1~2 hectares, which are usually
scattered over a wide area. The farms dominated by
these small scale farmers are responsible for about 95%
of the total production. In addition, small scale
agriculture has in the time past suffered from limited
access to credit facilities, modern technology farm
input and inefficient use of resources (Izekor and
Olomese, 2010). These poor outcomes were attributed
to low productivity, poor agricultural produce price;
hence poor farm income, inadequate infrastructure,
limited access to credit and improved farm inputs
(Babatunde et al., 2007). Hence, one way of tran
-sforming agriculture is by exposing small-scale
farmers to improved agricultural production technologies,
such as high crop yielding seed varieties.
Soybean has been variously described as a “miracle
bean” or a “golden bean” because it is a cheap,
protein-rich grain. This is so because it contains 42.8%
high quality protein, 22.8% edible vegetable oil, 33%
carbonate and a good balance of amino acids
(RMRDC, 2005). In addition, soybean oil is 85%
unsaturated and cholesterol free when compared to
other legumes and animal sources (IITA, 1998).
Soybean can also contribute to the enhanced
sustainability of intensified cropping systems by
improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation,
permitting a longer duration of ground cover in the
