2026 Vol-6 Issue-2 | CONSTRAINTS TO THE ADOPTION OF STRESS-TOLERANT MAIZE VARIETIES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

The adoption of stress-tolerant maize varieties (STMVs) has been promoted across subSaharan Africa to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen farmers' resilience to climate variability. Despite their proven agronomic and economic benefits, adoption among smallholder farmers in Nigeria remains low. This study examined the major constraints affecting the adoption of STMVs among smallholder maize farmers in NorthWestern Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 295 maize farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique across Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States during the 2024 cropping season. Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation were used for data analysis. The suitability of the data for factor analysis was confirmed by a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.761 and a significant Bartlett's Test of Sphericity (Approx. χ² = 356.482, df = 55, p < 0.001). Four factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.0 were retained, jointly explaining 69.63% of the total variance. The extracted factors comprised financial, market, institutional, and knowledge constraints. Key barriers included poor access to credit, high cost of improved seed, inadequate extension services, non-availability of certified seed, market adulteration, high transportation costs, poor variety identification, and inadequate knowledge of climate change. The findings demonstrate that the adoption of STMVs is constrained by interrelated financial, institutional, market, and knowledge factors rather than isolated barriers. The study recommends strengthening extension services, improving access to affordable credit and certified seed, enhancing rural market infrastructure, and expanding farmer education programmes to promote the sustainable adoption of STMVs among smallholder farmers in North-Western Nigeria