Effect of Adoption of Land Management Practices on Rice Production among Farming Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sustainable land management practices—such as crop rotation, mixed cropping, organic manure use, and irrigation—have been promoted to enhance soil health and farm output. This study investigates the effect of land management practices (LMPs) adoption on rice production among farming households in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Land degradation, poor soil fertility, and inconsistent farming systems have continued to undermine rice productivity in the region despite increased demand for the crop. A three-stage random sampling method select ninety rice farmers who were interviewed through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, the Likert-type scale and the Tobit regression model were used to analyse the data for the study. The results on the socioeconomic characteristics revealed that the mean age of rice farmers was 45.7 years. Age, marital status, credit access, and farming experience influenced land management practices. The findings further highlight a moderate to high awareness of LMPs among farmers, yet also reveal that institutional challenges—such as limited access to extension services and formal credit—hamper widespread adoption. Approximately 54.4% are members of farmer associations, a promising statistic, as group membership tends to improve access to inputs, extension resources, and market insights. On the other hand, the 45.6% who are not members highlight an underutilised opportunity for collective action and the sharing of knowledge. Access to credit (10%) increases LMP adoption, supporting extensive evidence that financial liquidity enables investment in practices like irrigation, organic manure, or mechanisation. Although non-availability of land (mean = 3.0) and the use of local rice varieties (3.4) were rated slightly lower, they remain relevant to overall productivity. The study concludes that enhanced adoption of sustainable land management practices can significantly improve rice productivity and farmer income. Rice farmers adopted crop rotation, fertiliser use, mixed cropping, shifting cultivation, and improved varieties, but faced challenges like drought, pests, and high production costs. Government should promote effective land management practices through educational programs, resources, and collaboration with local agencies and NGOs, ensuring farmers have access to recommended practices.