G. M. Armel Nonvide - Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin.

Adoption of improved rice varieties is important for improving rice yield in Benin. This study employed a double-hurdle model to assess factors influencing the adoption of improved rice varieties using a cross-sectional dataset of ۳۶۰ farmers randomly selected in the municipality of Malanville in Benin. Estimation of the first hurdle indicates that education, frequency of extension visits, frequency of farmer-based organization meetings, access to credit, participation in market, off-farm activities, fertilizer use, perception of soil fertility, access to media and ownership of mobile phone play significant roles in adoption decision-making process in the municipality of Malanville. The results from the second hurdle show that the land under improved rice is positively associated with education, rice-farming experience, credit, off-farm activities, and soil fertility. These findings suggest a strong institutional support measures for promoting the improved rice varieties in Benin.

Double-hurdle model, Rice production policy, Sub-Saharan Africa, Tobit model.