Adoption Of Chemical Fertilizer As Influenced By Farmers' Socio-Economic Characteristics In The North–West Zone (Nwz) Of Nigeria

Mg Maiangwa

doi:10.4314/gjass.v7i1.2367

Abstract

The study was conducted in the 2002/03 agricultural season in two States in the NWZ of Nigeria, namely, Kano and Katsina. The specific objectives were to: (i) Estimate the rates of adoption and application of inorganic fertilizer; and (ii) Determine farmers' socio-economic characteristics conditioning the adoption of inorganic fertilizer in the two selected States. The mean rates of adoption of inorganic fertilizer were 85.85% for Kano, 98.35% for Katsina, and 92.10% for both States. These rates of adoption were illustrative of a long history of exposure to fertilizer use. The mean rates of application of inorganic fertilizers were 41.49 kg ha-1 for Kano, 67.24 kg ha-1 for Katsina and 54.36 kg ha-1 for both States. These rates, however, fell short of the recommended chemical fertilizer nutrient levels for the staple food crops grown in the two States, indicating that their yield- and soil-enriching potentials were not fully realized. The results of the analysis of the socio-economic factors conditioning adoption of inorganic fertilizer showed that those significantly related with adoption included age, household size, education, membership of associations, farm size, off-farm income, extension contact and land security. Recommendations made included: the complementary applications of inorganic and organic fertilizers; training extension educators and other technical assistants to understand the factors conditioning adoption for more effective targeting and delivery of programmes; the education of the rural populace; encouraging membership of farmers' associations; the expansion of farm sizes; improved access to production credit; and the strengthening of existing extension systems. Keywords: Chemical fertilizer, adoption rate, application rate, adoption factors, Nigeria.Global Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 97-104

Highlights

Developing countries face the dual tasks of increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainability of the resource base on which agriculture fundamentally depends (Ersado et al, 2004)
For most sub-Saharan African countries, adoption of more efficient farming practices and technologies that enhance agricultural productivity and improve environmental sustainability, as the land frontier is reduced under growing population pressure, remains the most practical option for achieving economic growth, food security, and poverty alleviation (Ersado et al 2004)
Given the present knowledge, the limited scope for expanding cultivated area, the rapid rate at which food production must increase in developing countries, severe soil degradation, and the prospect that future increases in cereal production will mainly depend on increased crop yields, or what is known as “agricultural intensification,” fertilizer will remain an essential input in meeting future food production requirements and farmers probably will have little choice but to depend heavily on external sources of nutrients in the foreseeable future (Desai, 1990; Byerlee and Heisey, 1992; Mitchell and Ingco, 1993; FAO, 1993; Pinstrup – Andersen and Pandya – Lorch, 1994; Rosegrant et al, 1995)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Developing countries face the dual tasks of increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainability of the resource base on which agriculture fundamentally depends (Ersado et al, 2004). Often, these investments take the form of incentives to adopt improved technologies, the argument being that growth in agricultural production should come from yield increases rather than area expansion (Eicher, 1994). Studies (Phillip et al, 2000; Idisi, 1990; Voh, 1979; Feder et al, 1985; Heisey and Mwangi, 1993) have shown that an important first step towards determining the impact of a technology on a target society is to obtain some idea about the rate of diffusion or adoption of the technology and its related components This information, in addition to serving as input into future technology impact assessment processes, can provide a useful feedback for strengthening the researchextension–farmer linkage.

METHODOLOGY

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Findings

RESULT