Identification of Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties among Smallholder Farmers in the Municipality of Malanville, Benin

Adoption of improved rice varieties is important for improving rice yield in Benin. This study employed a double-hurdle model to assess factors influencing the adoption of improved rice varieties using a cross-sectional dataset of 360 farmers randomly selected in the municipality of Malanville in Benin. Estimation of the first hurdle indicates that education, frequency of extension visits, frequency of farmer-based organization meetings, access to credit, participation in market, off-farm activities, fertilizer use, perception of soil fertility, access to media and ownership of mobile phone play significant roles in adoption decision-making process in the municipality of Malanville. The results from the second hurdle show that the land under improved rice is positively associated with education, rice-farming experience, credit, off-farm activities, and soil fertility. These findings suggest a strong institutional support measures for promoting the improved rice varieties in Benin.