INFORMATION AND TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF WOMEN VEGETABLE FARMERS ON ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE

Abstract

Organic agriculture (OA) is a production system designed to sustain the health of soils, ecosystems and peoplewhich relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use ofchemical inputs with adverse effects. This study considered information and training needs of women vegetablefarmers on organic agricultural practice in Akinyele Local government area of Oyo state. Multistage samplingprocedure was used to select a total of 120 respondents for this study. Interview schedule was utilised to gatherinformation on respondents’ perception, information and training needs. Data collected were analyzed usingboth descriptive and inferential statistics. There was an unfavourable perception (51.7%) about organicagricultural practices. There was a low information need (57.5%) with a high training need (59.2%)Asignificant relationship existed between training need and age (r =0.23; p =0.01), then between training needand family size (r =0.25; p =0.01). Also there was a significant relationship between training need andrespondents’ perception (r=0.34;p=0.00 ). The study therefore recommends latest training on organicagricultural principles and guidelines for women vegetable farmers in order to make organic vegetableproduction sustainable, hence improving income and food security. Keywords: Women farmer, training need, information need and organic agriculture