Factors Influencing Adoption of System of Rice Intensification among Smallholder Farmers in Mvomero District, Tanzania

Abstract

Adoption of the System of Rice Intensification among Smallholder Farmers (SRI) is important due to its extraordinary potential in production and productivity but there are factors which influence its adoption in different places including Tanzania. This research was conducted in Mvomero District, Morogoro, Tanzania to determine the extent of adoption of innovations in paddy production and analyzed factors influencing this adoption. A cross-sectional research design was adopted and 299 respondents were sampled using simple random technique while the Key Informants were sampled purposively. Data were collected using questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis while quantitative data based on the factors influencing adoption of SRI were analyzed using a Two-limit Tobit model. It was found that Marital status, land ownership, availability of paddy markets, knowledge, age and education level had significant influence on adoption of SRI (p0.05). It is concluded farmers’ knowledge is an important variable in adoption of SRI and hence enhancement of paddy production and productivity. Extension workers are advised to deliver regular extension programmes to farmers to enable them adopt new paddy innovations including SRI. In this case, farmers will be well-informed about the introduced innovations to their setting.