Ayomide joy ADEDIPESOYE

The farm household is the fundamental unit of management where decisions and actions affecting crop biodiversity are made. The household functions as a consumer, consuming commodities made on the farm by its members as well as goods acquired with money earned from wage labor or the farm. The household generates agricultural commodities that are either consumed or sold on the market by combining its own resources of labor, land, and other capital with inputs that are acquired. (Van dusen, 2000). According to Benin et al (2004), farmers’ decisions about which cereal crops and varieties to grow and how extensively can be understood in the context of the theory of the household farm. In this theory, the household farm maximizes utility over a set of consumption items generated by the set of crops and varieties it grows (Cf), a set of purchased consumption goods (Cnf), and leisure (l). The utility a household derives from various consumption combinations and levels depends on the preferences of its members. Preferences are in turn shaped by the characteristics of the household, such as the age or education of its members, and wealth. Choices among goods are constrained by the full income of the household, total time (T) allocated to farm production (H) and leisure (l), and a fixed production technology represented by (F). The production technology combines purchased inputs (X) and labor (L) with the physical characteristics of the farm (ΩF), which are fixed in a single decision
making period. (Joshi, 2006).

Background: On-farm biodiversity is essential for ecological resilience, food security, and the preservation of indigenous genetic resources. In Ondo State, Nigeria, maize is a primary staple crop, yet the diversity of varieties cultivated on individual farms is increasingly threatened by the drive for commercialization and the adoption of high-yielding monocultures. Objective: This study analyzed the factors influencing on-farm biodiversity—specifically cultivar richness—among maize farmers in Ondo State, Nigeria Methodology: A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select maize farmers across the three senatorial districts of the state. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and focused group discussions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Simpson Diversity Index to measure the level of biodiversity, and Poisson regression analysis (or Multiple Regression) to identify the socio-economic and institutional determinants of on-farm diversity Findings: Results indicated that a significant majority (approximately 76%) of maize farmers in the study area practice in situ conservation by cultivating more than one variety on their land. The analysis revealed that: Socio-economic Factors: Farm size, household size, and years of farming experience were positively and significantly correlated with higher levels of biodiversity. Institutional Factors: Access to extension services and membership in farmers' associations played dual roles; while extension services often promoted improved varieties (potentially reducing diversity), they also provided the technical knowledge necessary for managing multi-crop systems. Technological Factors: The number of agricultural technologies adopted and the level of information received regarding climate-resilient seeds significantly influenced the retention of traditional varieties.