Fertilizer use and measures for increased sustainable consumption by peasant farmers: food security approach in rural Nigeria

Udoh, A. J and Umoh, E (2011) Fertilizer use and measures for increased sustainable consumption by peasant farmers: food security approach in rural Nigeria. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research, 9. 8 pp.

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Abstract

A study was conducted to develop practices that would increase in fertilizer usage by the farmers in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Three zones out of six of the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP) were randomly selected. The target population was contact and non-contact farmers of AKADEP. One hundred and seventy farmers were randomly selected from the farm cells to take part in the study. The relationship between the quantity of fertilizer used and factors that affect it was determined by using multiple regression analysis. The results show that most farmers were old. While 18.82% had no formal education, about 34% had just primary school education. Their farm size and income were extremely low. Educational status, farm size and income level of the farmers had direct impact on the quality of fertilizer consumed. High cost of fertilizer, late arrival of fertilizer, distance between farmers and fertilizer sales centers and land fragmentation were some of the constraints to fertilizer use. The following measures were suggested to alleviate the problems. They are: close location of fertilizer purchasing centers at the farm level, timely distribution of fertilizer to farmers, reduction in fertilizer price through subsidy and packaging of fertilizers in 5, 10 and 20 kg bags to enable farmers to buy and use in their smaller plots.

Item Type:	Article
Author Affiliation:	Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Nigeria
Subjects:	Social Sciences Postharvest Management
Divisions:	General
Depositing User:	Mr Siva Shankar
Date Deposited:	05 Dec 2011 08:54
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2011 08:54
URI:	http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2818

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