Factors that affect adoption of Hybrid Maize in Mwanga District: implications for continuing education

Journal of Continuing Education and Extension, 2005; 2(1):32-42This study investigated factors that influence the adoption of hybrid maize in Mwanga district and the implications for continuing education. Data for the study was collected from ninety randomly selected farmers in two villages. Field observation was also used for data collection. The data was analyzed using the Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS), employing cross tabs and chi square techniques. Findings show that adoption was significantly associated with gender, income, farm size, and cost of inputs and complexity of growing hybrid maize. In addition factors such as the presence of coffee, into-cropping system and the dehaling quality of hybrid maize also affected the adoption rate. Based on the findings training is still required to ensure that farmers adopt the technology correctly, which includes buying fresh supplies of hybrid maize seed every season. It is also recommended that farmers should find alternative arable areas in the lowland areas of Mwanga district to cultivate more maize so as to offset food shortages. At the policy level, reintroducing subsidies and is recommended as an option that should be considered