Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1700 (Paper) ISSN 2222-2855 (Online) Vol.5, No.14, 2014 43 Determinants of Sustainability of Paddy Rice Production in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Kadiri, Fausat*;Eze, Christopher.; Orebiyi, Samuel; Nwaiwu, Innocent School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. E-mail of corresponding author: *kadiri.fausat@gmail.com Abstract This study examined the determinants of sustainability of paddy rice production in Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select a sample of 300 rice farmers from three states out of the nine states in the region based on their strength in rice production Data were collected using structured and validated questionnaire. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in the study. The field results showed that, only two variables, sex and age were inversely proportional to sustainability while others; total household size, farm size, seed input, hired labor and fertilizer application were directly proportional to sustainability which implied that the higher the values of these variables the higher the sustainability level of farmers production system in the study area, It was concluded that rice production is highly sustainable in the area and that farmers should be encouraged by extension agents to use more of internal inputs to improve their sustainability through constant visitation and evaluation of their farm activities. Keywords: Sustainability, Determinants, Paddy Rice Production, Niger Delta. 1.0 Introduction In Nigeria, agriculture is the main source of food and the main employer of labor, employing about 60-70% of the population (CBN, 2005). The dominant crops in the south are cassava, yam, palm produce, cocoa and rubber while cereals (notably millet and sorghum), groundnuts and beans dominate crop production in the northern part of the country. According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistic, agriculture contributed (42.2%) to GDP followed by Oil and gas (19.35%). Manufacturing was a mere (4.025%) and Solid minerals (0.29%) Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics(NBS)., 2008). These analogies suggest that agriculture occupies a very prominent position in the growth and development of Nigerian economy.The concern of policy makers is how to ensure sustainable increases in food production so as to achieve sustainable food security. Rice is cultivated in virtually all of Nigeria’s agro-ecological zones(Akande,2003), from the mangrove and swampy ecologies of the River Niger in the coastal areas to the dry zones of the Sahel in the North. Nigeria has depended largely on intensification to improve production because yields are low, averaging 2.0 tonnes per hectare (National Bureau of Statistics, 2009). Rice is an increasingly important crop in Nigeria. It is relatively easy to produce and it is grown for sale and for home consumption. In some areas there is a long tradition of rice growing, but for many, it is considered a luxury food for special occasion only. With the increased availability of rice, it has become part of the everyday diet of many in Nigeria. There are many varieties of rice grown in Nigeria; some of these are traditional varieties while others have been introduced into the country. Nigeria has a land area of 923,768 million square kilometres with a total of 71.2 million hectares of cultivable land, an estimated 4.6 million hectares is suitable for rice production but only about 1.8 million hectares or 39% is currently developed for rice cultivation. (Federal Government of Nigeria,2009). However the question is how we sustain the production of rice in this area to enhance increased rice production in Nigeria Sustainable agricultural production systems involve those approaches to food production that ensures constant increases in productivity without compromising the chances of future generations to provide for themselves. It involves production practices that ensure environmental conservation and no or minimal disturbance to the natural eco support system, hence protects the potentials of the natural regeneration of the flora and fauna.(Nwaiwuet.al., 2013). The concept of Sustainability according to Brundland Report (1987) entitled our common future, of the World Commission on Environment and Development is ‘Development that fulfils the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations’. Sustainable Development means that development should “keep going”. It emphasizes the creation of sustainable improvements in the quality of life of all people through increases in real income per capita, improvements in education, health and general quality of life and improvements in quality of natural environmental resources. Thus, sustainable development is closely linked to economic development. Sustainable development according to Jhingan (2010) aims at the creation of sustainable improvements in the quality of life for all people as the principal goal of development policy. Sustainable development also aims at bettering people’s health and education opportunities, giving everyone the chance to participate in public life, helping to ensure a clean environment, and promoting intergenerational equity. Furthermore, Sustainable development aims at maximizing the net benefit of economic development, subject to maintaining the stock of all environmental and natural resource assets (physical, human and natural). Also sustainable development aims at accelerating economic