Determinants of Smallholder Adoption of Improved Vegetable Varieties in North Central Nigeria: Evidence from Benue and Niger States

The adoption of improved vegetable varieties is widely regarded as a key pathway to productivity growth and income improvement among smallholder farmers in Nigeria. However, adoption rates remain heterogeneous across the North Central geopolitical zone, shaped by complex interactions among socioeconomic, institutional, and biophysical factors. This study empirically examines the determinants of adoption of improved tomato and pepper varieties among smallholder farmers in Benue and Niger states, using a double-hurdle econometric model to separately analyze adoption likelihood and intensity. Primary data were collected from 320 randomly selected vegetable farmers across four local government areas in each state using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Variables assessed include household socioeconomic characteristics, access to extension services, participation in farmer organizations, credit access, distance to input markets, and risk perception. Results indicate that education, extension contact, access to credit, and membership in farmer cooperatives are significant positive determinants of adoption likelihood, while land size and market distance are significant at the intensity stage. The study identifies gender disparity as a persistent structural barrier, with female-headed households showing significantly lower adoption rates. Recommendations include gender-responsive variety promotion programs, strengthening of farmer cooperative support systems, and improved rural credit delivery mechanisms targeting vegetable farmers in Benue and Niger states. Keywords: technology adoption, improved varieties, vegetable farmers, North Central Nigeria, double-hurdle model