ABSTRACT

In recent years, there has been a noticeable varietal selection and preference of planting rice among farmers on account of early maturity, higher yield, taste, marketability, and resistance to drought, pests and diseases. This study examined the rice farmers’ preference level for planting of NERICA, FARO 44 (sippi) and Oryza glaberrima rice varieties in Kwali Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria. Interview schedules were used to collect data, and a multi-stage sampling technique used to sample respondents. Total sample size was 200, while simple percentages were used to present the results.  The results showed that 95% of respondents were male, 75% married, 77.5% were from the ages of 21 to 50 years, 93.5% attended formal schools while (77%) had farming experience of 6 to 10 years. The study revealed further that most of the rice farmers in the study area identified high yield (100.0%), good taste (83.0%), marketability (70.0%) and resistance to drought (33.0%) as the desirable characteristics improved varieties of rice should possess. The results also showed that a greater proportion of the farmers (53.5%) planted FARO 44 rice variety due to its desirable qualities. Efforts should therefore be intensified by Federal Capital Territory Administration and agricultural input dealers to provide FARO 44 seeds to the rice farmers in the study area.