Private Sector (candell company) and boosting rice production. a case study of R-Box technology adoption in Badeggi Bida Local Government Area of Niger State.

Abstract

The study investigated the role of private sector in boosting rice production, a case study of R-Box technology adoption in Baddegi, Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. The primary data used for the study was obtained through the use of structured questionnaire administered to ninety-six farmers. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select the farmers. Descriptive statistic and multiple regression analysis were used for the analysis of the data. The results showed that 62.4% of the farmers who used the R-Box technology were between the age group of 30-59 years of which 85% were males. It went further to reveal that 31.25% of farmers who used the R-Box package realized a revenue of N400,000 while about 70.83% of those who did not the this package realized less than N100,000. The study revealed that the variables of fertilizer use labour farm size and credit use were found to be statistically significant for those who used the R-Box package and with an R2 of 93%. However, only fertilizer, farmsize and credit were found to be positive and significant for farmers who did not use the package. The study concluded by recommending the need for a collaboration of the private sector (i.e Candell Company) with financial organizations to grant soft loans to farmers to enable them procure the R-Box package.