Abstract:
The performance of rice production in the Lwafi-Katongolo irrigation Scheme can be
characterized by various factors including environmental and non-environmental factors. Despite
introduction of improved rice varieties in irrigation schemes meant to increase production some
farmers still use local rice varieties. The factors that determine farmers’ choice between use of
local and improved rice varieties have not been adequately analysed and used to improve
productivity in the scheme. Such an analysis has wider implications on improvement of
performance of irrigation schemes in regards to especially rice production. This study was done
to: (1) determine the factors (Social -economic) that influence the use of local rice varieties as
opposed to improved varieties (2) determine other non-socio-economic factors that may
influence rice production in the scheme. A sample size of 120 farmers from 4 villages were
purposively chosen from Katongolo, Masolo, Kamwanda and Mpata for interview. Quantitative
data on soil fertility were collected from Uyole, Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) Uyole
database, while other quantitative data were descriptively analyzed by using SPSS computer
program, Stata computer program. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. The
results show that the major local rice varieties used in the scheme were Geha, Supa-kyela,
Malamata, Makoti and Supakikwakwa. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess
Social economic factors influencing the use of local varieties for rice production in the scheme.
Among of the nine-variable tested for factor that influence the use of local variety “education
level” influence positively on the use of local variety in the scheme (p<0.1) while “Major
economic activity” in the scheme influences negatively on the use of local variety in the
scheme(p<0.05). For most farmers prior experience on use of traditional/local varieties and
capital greatly influenced their adoption of new rice varieties. The constrains of using local rice
varieties being, the poor appearance in maturity, poor preference test and low production per unit
area. Therefore, the study being in prerequisite for recommending research to be carried in the
scheme for better knowing favorable rice varieties as a means of increasing rice production
among farmers in the scheme as well as much provision of agricultural extension services on the
use of improved rice varieties.
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