Authors: Millicent Sedi, Adebayo Akinboye Akinola, Caleb O. Obunyali, Moses Adeolu Adebayo, George Marechera, Dean Muungani, Itai Mazambani, Sylvester O. Oikeh.
Low adoption of hybrid seeds is a major limitation to maize production in Nigeria. A field survey was conducted to assess the determinants of hybrid maize adoption in five major maize-producing States in northern Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to 450 maize farming households using a simple random sampling technique. The Harvard and the Integrating Gender into Agricultural Value Chains Analytical Frameworks were adopted to develop study tools. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Tobit test. Results revealed major adoption determinants as high yield, pest and disease resistance, drought tolerance, large grain and seed size, and earliness. Male-headed respondents that identified high yield, pest and disease tolerance, drought tolerance, and seed price as selection attributes are 83.0, 69.6, 59.8, and 59.6%, respectively. Only 50% of the female respondents named taste as the major determinant. Greater sensitization of all genders on the benefits hybrid adoption is key for enhanced productivity.
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