FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF ORANGE FLESHED SWEET POTATO IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The socio-economic and health benefits of Orange Flesh Sweet Potato (OFSP) were the foremost and scientifically proven advantages of cultivation and consumption OFSP respectively. The present study seeks to understand farmers’ knowledge of health and socio-economic benefits of orange fleshed sweet potato in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 139 sweet potato farmers were sampled. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Data collected were analyzed with frequency count, percentages, mean, standard deviation and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Findings showed that majority (87.1%) had knowledge of socio-economic benefits of growing OFSP. Most of the respondents (63.3%) had moderate knowledge of the socio-economic benefits of growing OFSP. The respondents agreed that consumption of OFSP improve digestion (46.8%), boost immune system (31.7%) and improve vision (12.2%). Respondents additionally agreed that growing OFSP had mainly increased household income (34.5%), improved food security (47.5%) and increased participation in social activities (33.1%). Inadequate access to planting materials (79.1%) was the leading challenges to growing OFSP. PPMC analysis indicated that household size, family members involved in farming, years of experience, number of plots, income and knowledge of OFSP were the factors that influence farmers’ perception on health/socioeconomic benefits of OFSP at p≤0.05 level of significance. This study concluded that farmers had moderate knowledge level on health and socio-economic benefits of cultivating and consumption of OFSP. Therefore, agricultural extension agents should intensify efforts in the supply of planting materials and enlightenment of health benefits for improved vision.