ANALYSIS OF USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS AMONG VEGETABLE FARMERS IN MAIDUGURI AND ITS ENVIRONS, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study analysed the use of agro-chemicals among vegetable farmers in Maiduguri and its environs in Nigeria. Primary data were mainly used for the study. Multi - stage sampling techniques was employed to select 160 vegetable farmers for this study. Both descriptive (frequency distribution, percentages and mean scores) and inferential (regression analysis) statistics were used to analyze the data. The studies revealed that majority (77.50%) of the respondents were male and married (85.63%). The results indicated that majority (70.0%) of the respondents had 7 and above years of formal education. On the vegetable farmer’s sources of information on agro-chemical usage, the study revealed that most (50%) of the respondents got information on agrochemicals from other farmers, followed by stockists with 20%. Most (36.80%) of the respondents showed that they make use of herbicides than other forms of agro-chemicals. The farm size (ha) and income of the respondents has a positive and significant coefficient with p values of 0.000 at 1% level each. The major constraints considered as severe on the use of agro-chemicals among the respondents were high cost of supplies (mean score = 2.16), irregular supplies and insufficient farm incomes (mean score = 2.10) each which were ranked 1st and 2nd respectively. The study recommended those agricultural extension organizations and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of agriculture to carry out improved mobilization and sensitization campaigns to educate farmers on proper and efficient use of agro-chemicals with a view to improving productivity as well as prevent adverse environmental and human health effects.