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Determinants of Sustainability of Paddy Rice Production in Niger
Delta Region of Nigeria

+adiri( ,ausat-.E/e( 01ristop1er.. &rebi2i( Samuel. Nwaiwu( Innocent
Sc1ool of 3griculture and 3gricultural 4ec1nolog2( &werri( Nigeria.
E-mail of corresponding aut1or5 -6adiri.fausat7gmail.com

Abstract
41is stud2 e8amined t1e determinants of sustainabilit2 of padd2 rice production in Niger Delta 9egion of
Nigeria. :ultistage sampling tec1ni;ue was used to select a sample of * rice farmers from t1ree states out of
t1e nine states in t1e region based on t1eir strengt1 in rice production Data were collected using structured and
validated ;uestionnaire. <ot1 primar2 and secondar2 sources of data were used in t1e stud2. 41e field results
s1owed t1at( onl2 two variables( se8 and age were inversel2 proportional to sustainabilit2 w1ile ot1ers. total
1ouse1old si/e( farm si/e( seed input( 1ired labor and fertili/er application were directl2 proportional to
sustainabilit2 w1ic1 implied t1at t1e 1ig1er t1e values of t1ese variables t1e 1ig1er t1e sustainabilit2 level of
farmers production s2stem in t1e stud2 area( It was concluded t1at rice production is 1ig1l2 sustainable in t1e
area and t1at farmers s1ould be encouraged b2 e8tension agents to use more of internal inputs to improve t1eir
sustainabilit2 t1roug1 constant visitation and evaluation of t1eir farm activities.
Keywords: Sustainabilit2( Determinants( "add2 9ice "roduction( Niger Delta.

1.0 Introduction
In Nigeria( agriculture is t1e main source of food and t1e main emplo2er of labor( emplo2ing about =-7> of
t1e population !0<N( 2%#. 41e dominant crops in t1e sout1 are cassava( 2am( palm produce( cocoa and rubber
w1ile cereals !notabl2 millet and sorg1um#( groundnuts and beans dominate crop production in t1e nort1ern part
of t1e countr2. 3ccording to t1e Nigerian National <ureau of Statistic( agriculture contributed !)2.2># to ?D"
followed b2 &il and gas !1@.*%>#. :anufacturing was a mere !).2%># and Solid minerals !.2@># Nigerian
National <ureau of Statistics!N<S#.( 2$#. 41ese analogies suggest t1at agriculture occupies a ver2 prominent
position in t1e growt1 and development of Nigerian econom2.41e concern of polic2 ma6ers is 1ow to ensure
sustainable increases in food production so as to ac1ieve sustainable food securit2. 9ice is cultivated in virtuall2
all of NigeriaAs agro-ecological /ones!36ande(2*#( from t1e mangrove and swamp2 ecologies of t1e 9iver
Niger in t1e coastal areas to t1e dr2 /ones of t1e Sa1el in t1e Nort1. Nigeria 1as depended largel2 on
intensification to improve production because 2ields are low( averaging 2. tonnes per 1ectare !National <ureau
of Statistics( 2@#. 9ice is an increasingl2 important crop in Nigeria. It is relativel2 eas2 to produce and it is
grown for sale and for 1ome consumption. In some areas t1ere is a long tradition of rice growing( but for man2(
it is considered a lu8ur2 food for special occasion onl2. Bit1 t1e increased availabilit2 of rice( it 1as become part
of t1e ever2da2 diet of man2 in Nigeria. 41ere are man2 varieties of rice grown in Nigeria. some of t1ese are
traditional varieties w1ile ot1ers 1ave been introduced into t1e countr2. Nigeria 1as a land area of @2*(7=$
million s;uare 6ilometres wit1 a total of 71.2 million 1ectares of cultivable land( an estimated ).= million
1ectares is suitable for rice production but onl2 about 1.$ million 1ectares or *@> is currentl2 developed for rice
cultivation. !,ederal ?overnment of Nigeria(2@#. Cowever t1e ;uestion is 1ow we sustain t1e production of
rice in t1is area to en1ance increased rice production in Nigeria
Sustainable agricultural production s2stems involve t1ose approac1es to food production t1at ensures constant
increases in productivit2 wit1out compromising t1e c1ances of future generations to provide for t1emselves. It
involves production practices t1at ensure environmental conservation and no or minimal disturbance to t1e
natural eco support s2stem( 1ence protects t1e potentials of t1e natural regeneration of t1e flora and
fauna.!Nwaiwuet.al.( 21*#. 41e concept of Sustainabilit2 according to <rundland 9eport !1@$7# entitled our
common future( of t1e Borld 0ommission on Environment and Development is DDevelopment t1at fulfils t1e
needs of t1e present generation wit1out compromising t1e needs of future generationsA. Sustainable
Development means t1at development s1ould E6eep goingF. It emp1asi/es t1e creation of sustainable
improvements in t1e ;ualit2 of life of all people t1roug1 increases in real income per capita( improvements in
education( 1ealt1 and general ;ualit2 of life and improvements in ;ualit2 of natural environmental resources.
41us( sustainable development is closel2 lin6ed to economic development. Sustainable development according
to J1ingan !21# aims at t1e creation of sustainable improvements in t1e ;ualit2 of life for all people as t1e
principal goal of development polic2. Sustainable development also aims at bettering peopleAs 1ealt1 and
education opportunities( giving ever2one t1e c1ance to participate in public life( 1elping to ensure a clean
environment( and promoting intergenerational e;uit2. ,urt1ermore( Sustainable development aims at ma8imi/ing
t1e net benefit of economic development( subGect to maintaining t1e stoc6 of all environmental and natural
resource assets !p12sical( 1uman and natural#. 3lso sustainable development aims at accelerating economic
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development in order to conserve and en1ance t1e stoc6 of environmental( 1uman and p12sical capital wit1out
ma6ing future generations worse off. B1en applied to agriculture( sustainabilit2 suggests t1at food production at
present leaves enoug1 nutrients in t1e soil t1at would produce food for t1e future generations. It also suggests
t1at food and fibre( as well as animal products( will be produced( in ade;uate ;uantities and ;ualit2 to meet( on
regular and continuous bases( growing demands for agricultural products. Sustainable agriculture is t1at
agriculture t1at will bring about( increase in agricultural production at bot1 aggregate and per capita level
increase in foreign e8c1ange earnings t1roug1 e8port promotion and import substitution( provision of gainful
emplo2ment opportunities( self- sufficienc2 in food production( generate savings !capital# for investment in ot1er
sectors( and preserve and conserve t1e natural resource base( to en1ance its productivit2 !Imoudu( 1@@@#.
,or t1e purpose of t1is wor6( t1e definition of sustainabilit2 according to &6igbo( !1@@1# was adopted.Ce
maintained t1at sustainable rice production is one in w1ic1 t1e farmer continuall2 increases productivit2 at levels
t1at are economicall2 viable( ecologicall2 sound and culturall2 perceptible t1roug1 effective management of
resources and orc1estration of inputs in numbers( ;uantities and ;ualities( se;uences and timing( wit1 minimum
damage to t1e environment and danger to 1uman life.Hieb1ardt( !1@$7# defined agricultural sustainabilit2 to
involve production activities t1at minimi/es t1e use of e8ternal inputs and ma8imi/es t1e use of internal inputs(
w1ic1 alread2 e8ist in t1e farm. 3gricultural sustainabilit2 suggests t1at food production at present leaves
enoug1 nutrients in t1e soil t1at would produce food for t1e future generations. It also suggests t1at food and
fibre( as well as animal products( will be produced( in ade;uate ;uantities and ;ualit2 to meet( on regular and
continuous bases( growing demands for agricultural products.
41e obGectives of t1e stud2 include to5
i. assess t1e socio-economic c1aracteristics of rice farmers in t1e region.
ii measure t1e sustainabilit2 of rice production met1od used in t1e region and
iii. determine t1e factors influencing sustainabilit2 of rice production in t1e stud2 area.
41e 12pot1esis w1ic1 stated t1at5Socio-economic variables li6e se8( 1ouse1old si/e( farm si/e( seed input(
famil2 labor( 1ired labor( fertili/er application and 1erbicide application positivel2 and significantl2 affect
sustainabilit2 of rice production s2stems w1ile age negativel2 and significantl2 affect t1e sustainabilit2 of rice
production s2stems in t1e stud2 area was tested.

.0 !aterials and !et"ods
41e stud2 was carried out in t1e Niger Delta 9egion of Nigeria. 41is region is a densel2 populated region
sometimes called t1e &il 9ivers because it was once a maGor producer of palm oil. 41e Niger Delta( as defined
b2 t1e Nigerian ?overnment( covers over 7(6m
2
and ma6es up 7.%> of NigeriaAs land mass !Bi6ipedia(
21#. Cistoricall2 and cartograp1icall2( it consists of present da2 36wa-Ibom(3bia( <a2elsa( 0ross-9iver( Delta(
Edo( Imo &ndo and 9ivers states. 41e Sout1-Sout1 Niger Delta includes 36wa-Ibom(<a2elsa( 0ross 9iver(
Delta( Edo and 9ivers States. Sout1-East includes Imo and 3bia states w1ile &ndo state constitutes t1e Sout1
Best Niger Delta State.3 representative sample was selected for t1e stud2 using a multistage sampling tec1ni;ue.
41ree states( 3bia( &ndo and Imo States were purposivel2 selected because of t1eir relative strengt1 t in rice
production. 4wo Hocal ?overnment 3reas from eac1 of t1e state( 3bia !3roc1u6wu and <ende H?3s#( Imo
!&6igwe and I1itte-Iboma H?3s#( &ndo !36o6o Nort1 and &digbo H?3s# were purposivel2 selected based on
t1eir rice production intensit2 ma6ing a total of si8 Hocal ?overnment 3reas !H?3s#. In eac1 H?3 selected( a
list of rice producing communities was compiled t1roug1 t1e assistance of 3D" staff. ,rom t1is list( five
communities were selected randoml2 giving a total of t1irt2 communities. In eac1 of t1e selected communities
ten rice farming 1ouse1olds were randoml2 selected giving a total of fift2 !%# farmers per H?3 and 1ence a
total of t1ree 1undred rice farmers. 41is tec1ni;ue gave ever2 rice farmer in eac1 communit2 an e;ual
opportunit2 of being part of t1e stud2
Data for t1is stud2 were collected from bot1 primar2 and secondar2 sources."rimar2 sources include information
t1at were obtained from oral interview( observations and interview sc1edule. 4wo sets of interview sc1edule
were used5 t1e village level andfarmerAs 1ouse1old level.Structured interview sc1edule was utili/ed in gat1ering
primar2 data w1ile Secondar2 source of information include Gournals( te8t boo6s( internet searc1( websites(
publis1ed and unpublis1ed materials relevant to t1e stud2.41e t2pe of data collected included t1ose t1at bordered
on t1e socio-economic c1aracteristics of farmers li6e !age( se8( level of education and 1ouse1old si/e#. &t1ers
were ;uantities and t2pes of inputs used in rice production li6e !farm si/e( seed input( 1ired labor( famil2 labor(
fertili/er application and 1erbicide application#. Data were anal2sed using appropriate descriptive statistical tools
and t1e ordinar2 least s;uare !&HS# multiple regression anal2tical tools. 41e socio-economic c1aracteristics of
farmers were anal2sed using mean( fre;uencies and percentages w1ile t1e determinants of padd2 rice
sustainabilit2 were identified wit1 use of &rdinar2 Heast s;uare 9egression anal2sis wit1 model5
Ss J f !3g( S8( Cs( ,s( Si( ,l( Cl( ,a( Ca( e#KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKe;u. 1
Ssis sustainabilit2 w1ic1 is given b25
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)%
1
sin
=
T
N
Nin
Ss KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKe;u. 2
!Hieb1ardt( !1@$7#. Nwaiwu( et. al( !21#. Nwaiwu et.al; 21*#
B1ere Ss J sustainabilit2 inde8 or sustainable s2stem !>#.
N
sin
J number of sustainable inputs used b2 a farmer.
4
Nin
J total number of inputs used b2 a farmer
,inall2( t1e mean sustainabilit2 inde8 or level for t1e stud2 area was determined to conclude w1et1er t1e s2stem
is unsustainable or sustainable as t1us5
n
Ss
T
N
Nin
1
1
sin

= KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKe;u. *
41e criteria of sustainabilit2 are5
L )> Insustainable "roduction s2stem(
M)> L %> Sustainable "roduction s2stem(
M%> Cig1l2 Sustainable "roduction s2stem.
!Hieb1ardt( !1@$7#. Nwaiwu( et. al( !21#. Nwaiwu et.al; 21*#
B1ere5 n J sample si/e of farmers
3g J 3ge of farmers !2ears#
S8 J Se8 of farmers !dumm2 variable(1 J male( J female#
Cs J Couse1old si/e !Number#
,s J ,arm si/e !Cectares#
Si J Seed input !+g#
,l J ,amil2 labor !:anda2s#
Cl J Cired labor !:anda2s#
,a J ,ertili/er application !+g#
Ca J Cerbicide application !+g#
41e a priori e8pectation is t1at( b
1
N ( w1ile b
2
O b
7
M .
#.0 Results and Discussion
4able 1 41e socio-economic c1aracteristics of t1e respondents
4able 1 s1ows t1e mean of t1e socio economic c1aracteristics of rice farmers in t1e stud2 area w1o formed t1e
basis of t1is stud2
$"aracteristics
of res%ondents Percentage &'( !ean
Age:
2% O *% 1.**> )@2ears
*= O )% 27.=7>
)= O %% *%.>
%= O =% 17.**>
== O 7% @.=@>
!arital Status:
Single @.**>
:arried 7.>
Divorced 1.>
Separated 1.>
Bidowed @.=7>
)ender:
:ale =).**>
,emale **.=7>
Partici%ation:
"art time farming =1.>
,ull time farming *@.>
*ducational attainment $ 2ears
+ears of e,%erience in rice farming 17 2ears
-arm si.e 2.*2 !1a#
-armers "ouse"old si.e =
Source5 ,ield Surve2 Data( 212.
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41e 4able 1 s1owed t1at most of t1e respondents fell wit1in t1e age group *= O %%2ears w1ic1 was about
=2.==> of t1e total sample( wit1 a mean of )@2ears. 41is implied t1at rice farming is being practised b2 middle
aged farmers w1o are still ver2 active and are still able to cope wit1 t1e stress of rice farming.41is finding is
consistent wit1 t1e findings of Ibito2e et.al. !212#( w1o found t1at t1e mean age of rice farmers in t1eir stud2
area was )%2ears. 41is s1owed t1at rice farmers belong to t1e middle age class( w1o are p12sicall2 fit to
wit1stand t1e stress and ris6s involved in rice production( and are more mentall2 alert to embrace new
tec1ni;ues of rice production. 3lso( rice production in t1e stud2 area was dominated b2 male farmers w1o
comprised of =).**> of sampled farmers.41is is in contrast wit1 Ibito2e( et al !212# w1o found t1at t1ere were
more female rice farmers t1an males in t1eir stud2 area. 41e results also s1owed t1at =@> of rice farmers were
part time farmers and 7.> were married. 41is implied t1at rice farmers were people wit1 1ig1 responsibilit2
w1o needed income from ot1er sources to meet up wit1 t1eir financial obligations. 41e table also s1owed t1at
rice farming 1as been a long time practice amongst t1e farmers in t1e stud2 area( w1ic1 on t1e average was 17
2ears. 41e level of education attained was !$ 2ears# on t1e average and t1e e8perience attained over t1e 2ears
will assist t1e farmers to be able to adopt new tec1nologies. Hastl2( t1e result s1owed t1at farmers in t1e stud2
area weresmall O scalefarmers !2.*2 1ectare# and t1is small farm si/e ma6e mec1ani/ation difficult t1ereb2
limiting output of rice to subsistence level leaving little for commercial. 3lso(Ibito2e et.al., !212# confirmed
t1at !%*.># of rice farmers in IbaGi cultivated between 1-* 1ectares.
4able 2 41edistribution of rice farming according to categories of inputs used.
4able 2 indicated t1at two categories of inputs were used in rice production in t1e stud2 area( namel2. internal
inputs and e8ternal inputs.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
In%uts -re0uency Percentage &'(
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Internal 1@7 =%.=7
E8ternal 1* *).**
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
1otal #00 100.00
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Source: ,ieldSurve2 Data( !212#.
41e 4able also t1at =%.=7> of total inputs used in rice production in t1e stud2 area were internal inputs( w1ic1
were owned land( rain fed water( bot1 famil2 and communal labor( organic manure and natural soil nutrient(
owned capital( manual weeding and owned seed input w1ile *).**> were e8ternal inputs( w1ic1 were purc1ased
land( irrigated water source( 1ired labor( fertili/er purc1ase( borrowed capital( 1erbicide purc1ase and purc1ase
of seed input. 41is anal2sis implied t1at padd2 rice production in t1e stud2 area was sustainable. 41is is in line
wit1 Hieb1ardt !1@$7# and Nwaiwu et al.( !21# w1o posited t1at sustainable agriculture is t1at w1ic1 involves
t1e use of internal inputs !inputs not purc1ased( naturall2 endowed etc.# and unsustainable agriculture involves
t1e use of e8ternal inputs !purc1ased( artificiall2 manufactured and not readil2 affordable b2 poor farmers etc.#.
4able * 41e distribution of respondents according to t1e level of sustainabilit2 in t1e stud2 area.
1able # Distribution of Res%ondents according to sustainability le2el
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Sustainability le2el
&'(
-re0uency Percentage &'(
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
1. O ). =2 2.=7
)1. O $. 1%1 %.**
$1. O 12. == 22.
121. O 1=. 1$ =.
1=1. O 2. * 1.
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
1otal #00 100.00
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////
!ean 3 45.56'
Source: ,ield Surve2 Data5 3pril ODecember( 212.
41e result of 4able * s1owed t1at( farmerAs sustainabilit2 level )1. O $. came first !%.**>#( followed b2
$1. O 12. !22.>#( 1. O ). !2.=7># came t1ird w1ile 121. O 1=. !=.># came fourt1. 41e
mean sustainabilit2 level of respondents is =%.%@>. 41is implied t1at farmers in t1e stud2 area practice
sustainable rice production s2stem. 41is indicated t1at farmers use more of internal inputs !rain-fed agriculture(
use of organic manure( crude implements li6e 1oes and cutlasses( manual weeding( more of famil2 and
communal labor( owned capital( owned seed and owned land# t1an e8ternal inputs li6e !fertili/ers tractors and
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ot1er 1eav2 e;uipment# t1at furt1er degrade t1e soil. It 1as been observed t1at farmers w1o practice sustainable
agriculture are mainl2 small 1older farmer and in t1is stud2 we reported t1at small 1older farmers are t1ose w1o
farm on marginal lands of between .1 O =. 1ectares and 1ig1l2 dependent on rudimentar2 capital( rain-fed
cropping( crude implements and mostl2 on famil2 supplied labor. Nwaiwu( !21*# reported a similar observation
in 1is stud2 of cassava farmers in Imo State.
41is sustainabilit2 of rice s2stem encourages t1e farmers to invest more in rice production w1ic1 could fetc1
t1em more income 2earl2. 41is 2earl2 accrued income w1ic1 t1e farmer ploug1ed bac6 into t1e communit2 and
invested on 1is famil2( would ultimatel2 lead to a sustainable rural development.
4able ) 41e multiple regression result of t1e sustainabilit2 of !padd2# riceproduction in t1e stud2 area.
1able 7!ulti%le regression results s"owing t"e determinants of sustainability of rice %roduction in t"e
study area.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
8ariables 9inear -orm Semi 9og -orm Double 9og form *,%onential -orm
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
0onstant !a# 2.@= -1%%.@= .)* *.2
!).2$#-- !-7.7#-- !1.*%# !22.22#--
3ge !P
1
# -.*)1 2.7% -.112 -.$
!-*.)1#-- !.=*# !-1.7$)# !-2.@7#--
Se8 !P
2
# .2= 7.%%1 -.=* -.1*=
!.12# !*.7#-- !-1.7$)# !-2.27#-
CQC si/e !P
*
# .7=7 -*.2)1 .=1 .27
!2.)%2#- !-2.7#- !2.71)#-- !*.121#--
,arm si/e !P
)
# -1.11 -.*72 .21* .%=
!-.7*%# !-.1$7# !7.)2$#-- !1.)7#
Seed Input !P
%
# .227 2.$% .22% .)
!11.$=#-- !1.1# !7.%%*#-- !7.1$7#--
,QHabor !P
=
# .2)1 2.%@2 .)= .*
!*.=)=#-- !2.@=$#-- !.)%@# !1.%2)#
CQlabor !P
7
# -.1$ -1*.)1 .*=7 .)
!-.1=$# !-2.*1)#- !).)#-- !1.**1#
,Q3pplication !P
$
# -.*7 2@.*%2 .22= -.2
!-.%=2# !).)2$#-- !2.*=@#- !-.$)=#
CQ3pplication !P
@
# .==2 17.=$@ .27 -.2
!.%2# !*.$@)#-- !.)1@# !-.71#
9
2
.77= .$%$ .@** .==
f-ratio 11.=%-- 1@).2$=-- ))*.=)@-- )@.2)--
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Source: ,ield Surve2 Data( !212#.
,igures in parent1esis are t values(
-- means significant at 1>( - means significant at %>5
4able ) s1owed t1at out of t1e four functional forms anal2sed( t1e double log form best e8plained t1e regression
relations1ip between t1e e8plained variable sustainabilit2 and t1e e8planator2 variables wit1 9
2
value of .@**.
41is implies t1at @*.*> of t1e variations in sustainabilit2 level of farmers production s2stem were caused b2
age( !P
1
#( se8 !P
2
#( total number of 1ouse1old !P
*
#( farm si/e !P
)
#( seed input !P
%
#( famil2 labor !P
=
#( 1ired labor
!P
7
#( fertili/er application !P
$
# and 1erbicide application !P
@
# w1ile t1e remaining =.7> was caused b2 error.
41e influence of t1e independent variables on t1e dependent variable was also found to be statisticall2
significant at 1>. &ut of all t1e nine e8planator2 variables( five were found to be statisticall2 significant at bot1
1> and %> levels of significance( t1ese are 1ouse1old si/e !P
*
#( farm si/e !P
)
#( seed input !P
%
#( 1ired labor !P
7
#
and fertili/er application !P
$
#. 41e table also s1owed t1at( onl2 two variables se8 and age were inversel2
proportional to sustainabilit2 w1ile ot1ers. total 1ouse1old si/e !P
*
#( farm si/e !P
)
#( seed input !P
%
#( 1ired labor
!P
7
# and fertili/er application !P
$
# were directl2 proportional to sustainabilit2. 41is implies t1at t1e 1ig1er t1e
values of t1ese variables t1e 1ig1er t1e sustainabilit2 level of rice farmerAs production s2stem and vice versa. ,or
instance( t1e larger t1e farm si/e !internal input#( t1e more t1e total number of farm 1ouse1old re;uired to wor6
on t1e farm( t1e 1ig1er t1e tendenc2 of farmers to use organic manure and natural soil regeneration nutrients
instead of bu2ing inorganic fertili/er( manual weeding wit1 1oes and cutlasses instead of tractors and 1erbicides
etc. 3s opined b2 Nwaiwu !21#( t1e use of more internal inputs is sustainable production practice. 41e inverse
proportionalit2 of age s1owed t1at( t1e 1ig1er t1e age of farmers( t1e more 1e or s1e tends to use more of
e8ternal inputs li6e inorganic fertili/er( tractors( purc1ase of seed( purc1ase of 1erbicides instead of manual
weeding wit1 1oes and cutlasses as a result of wea6ness of t1e bod2 resulting from old age.
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41e 12pot1esis tested stated t1at( Socio-economic variables li6e age( se8( 1ouse1old si/e( farm si/e( seed input(
famil2 labor( 1ired labor( fertili/er application and 1erbicide application positivel2 and significantl2 affect
sustainabilit2 of rice production s2stems w1ile age negativel2 and significantl2 affect t1e sustainabilit2 of rice
production s2stems in t1e stud2 area. Since t1ere were significant variables at bot1 1> and %> levels of
significance from t1e adopted functional form !Double Hog ,orm#( t1e null 12pot1esis is 1ereb2 reGected and t1e
alternative 12pot1esis accepted since socio-economic c1aracteristics of rice farmers significantl2 affected t1e
sustainabilit2 of rice farming s2stems in t1e stud2 area.

7.0 $onclusion and Recommendations
41e anal2sis of sustainabilit2 of farming s2stem in t1e stud2 area s1owed t1at ==> of internal inputs and *)> of
e8ternal inputs were used in rice production( t1e mean sustainabilit2 level of rice farmers was =%.=7>(and t1is
implied t1at production s2stem of rice farmers is sustainable in t1e stud2 area.3lso( t1e resultof t1e factors
influencing sustainabilit2 of rice production in t1e area s1owed t1at 9
2
value was .@** !@*.*># w1ic1 implied
t1at @*.*> of t1e variations in sustainabilit2 level of farmers production s2stem were caused b2 all t1e
variables used in t1e model w1ile t1e remaining =.7> was caused b2 error. Cowever( t1is sustainabilit2 level
can be improved if t1e education attained( age and e8perience of rice farmers w1ic1 were all in favour of rice
production is well anne8ed. 3lso( farmers s1ould be encouraged b2 e8tension agents to use more of internal
inputs to improve t1eir sustainabilit2 t1roug1 constant visitation and evaluation of t1eir farm activities.

References
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