Extent of Adoption of selected innovations among smallholder paddy farmers in Mvomero District, Tanzania

Abstract

Presently, different stakeholders play a key role in paddy production by introducing innovations
to paddy farmers in Tanzania. However, the farmers tend to adopt innovations at different rates,
which call for an establishment of the extent of the adoption of introduced innovations. This
study was conducted in Mvomero District, Morogoro, Tanzania to determine the extent of
adoption of innovations in paddy production. A cross-sectional research design was adopted and
299 respondents were sampled using simple random technique. Data were collected using
questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 6 to 12
participants and Key Informant Interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were analysed using
content analysis. The extent of adoption of innovations was analysed with fundamental statistics
values, namely, frequencies and percentage. Study findings revealed that the adoption of systems
of rice intensification (SRI) is concentrated into 3 to 7 practices and few respondents adopted 1 to
2 and 8 to 11 SRI practices. The adoption of Power Tillers (PTs), Wooden Threshers (WTs) and
Combine Rice Mills (CRMs) were difficult accounted for 47, 5 and 18percent of all the
respondents, respectively. It is complex for a smallholder paddy farmer to adopt full a package of
an innovation in which its composition has several production principles. Extension Officers are
advised to design context-specific extension programmes for easy adoption of paddy innovations
to rural farmers.