Assessment of Farm Record-Keeping Practices Among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Kaduna State

Accurate farm record-keeping is a foundational management practice that enables farmers to track input use, monitor costs, and make informed production decisions. Despite its importance, adoption among smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria remains low, with structural and literacy-related barriers frequently cited in recent agricultural surveys. This study assesses the nature, frequency, and completeness of farm records maintained by maize farmers in Kaduna State, located in the North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to 180 randomly selected farmers across three local government areas. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and frequency tables. Findings indicate that fewer than 30 percent of sampled farmers maintain written records, and those who do tend to focus on sales transactions while neglecting input expenditures, labour costs, and seasonal yield comparisons. Key barriers identified include low formal education, lack of accessible record-keeping templates, and limited extension advisory services. Farmers affiliated with cooperative societies demonstrated significantly higher record-keeping compliance than non-members. The study recommends that the Kaduna State Agricultural Development Programme design simplified, pictorial record-keeping booklets tailored to low-literacy farming populations. Regular training workshops embedded in cooperative meetings are also proposed. Improving financial literacy at the farm level will strengthen household income tracking and support better planning for subsequent planting seasons. This research contributes descriptive evidence to the growing conversation on smallholder farm management efficiency in Nigeria's grain belt. Keywords: farm records, maize farmers, smallholder, Kaduna State, extension services