Effect of Household Endowment on Fertilizer Use in Rice Production in Kwande, Benue State, Nigeria
Fater H. Gasarah
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, 970001, Nigeria.
Goodness C. Aye *
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, 970001, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of household endowment on the use of fertilizer by rice farmers in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 100 randomly selected rice farmers through the use of structured questionnaires. Logit regression was used to analyze the data. The Logit results show that age, household size, education and credit were significant factors affecting fertilizer use among rice farmers in the study area. While household size, education and credit increased the probability of adoption of fertilizer, age decreased the probability. This emphasises the need for the relevant policy intervention to encourage technology adoption in the study area. Specifically, the government is recommended to enact and implement policies that will raise the physical, human and social capital of the households in the Benue State, Nigeria.
Keywords: Social capital, human capital, physical capital, fertilizer, adoption, rice