Journal of Continuing Education and Extension, 2005; 2(1):32-42
This 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.