5.2.11 Rate of adoption of technologies disseminated to rice farmers As observed from table 26, rice recorded very impressive levels of technology adoption under ATASP-1 project. It was found that improved seed and weed management recorded 100% adoption levels while field preparation, determination of appropriate planting period and crop establishment all recorded about 99% levels of adoption while site preparation and fertilizer application recorded about 98% levels of adoption while the least which was pest and diseases control was 95% level of adoption. This is an indication of the high interest these farmers in dedicatedly joining the train of rice production. Figure 7 presents the graphical presentation of adoption of technologies disseminated to rice farmers under the project, from the figure; it was found that rice farmers have the best technologies adoption rate as there was no technology that has less than 95% rate of adoption. This has raised the hope that we are on course towards becoming a major rice producing nation able to produce enough to meet national demands thus conserving our scarce foreign reserve for better use. Table 26: Rate of adoption of rice technologies S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Technologies Improved varieties (Faro 44, Faro 52, Faro 60 and Faro 61 Site/Land preparation Field preparation Seed preparation Determine planting season Crop establishment Weed management Fertilizer application Pest and Disease control
Frequency* 80 78 79 77 79 79 80 78 76
Figure 7: Bar chart showing rate of technology adoption by rice farmers (the serial number corresponds with the number on table 26) 51
Percentage 100 97.5 98.8 96.3 98.8 98.8 100 97.5 95.0
