ADOPTION OF CITRUS PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AMONG FARMERS IN KASTINA-ALA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
The study investigated the adoption of citrus production technologies among farmers in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state, Nigeria. Data were collected from 60 citrus farmers in the area through the use of structured interview schedule using simple random sampling technique. The f...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria
2018-10-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Agricultural Extension |
| Online Access: | https://journal.aesonnigeria.org/index.php/jae/article/view/1636 |
| Summary: | The study investigated the adoption of citrus production technologies
among farmers in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue state,
Nigeria. Data were collected from 60 citrus farmers in the area through the
use of structured interview schedule using simple random sampling
technique. The findings revealed that a majority (86.7%) of the citrus
farmers depended on family members as sources of labour required for
citrus production and also financed citrus production activities with family
and personal savings (46.7%). A greater percentage (o/ 0%) of the farmers
intercropped citrus with cereals and tuber crops. Improved citrus species
grown include Ibadan sweet, Valencia and Washington novel, Adult males /
female played major roles in land preparation and marketing of citrus fruits.
The finding showed that citrus farmers in the area had adopted and were
using improved citrus production technologies like slashing at least twice
yearly, planting of leguminous crops to .reduce weeds, use of improved
citrus species and fire tracing. These are yield-increasing technologies that
can boost the productivity of the local resource poor farmers and reduce
poverty. However, high cost of fertilizers was rated the major limiting
constraint militating against the adoption of citrus technologies in the area.
The study therefore, highlights the need for government to create an
enabling environment for enhanced citrus production through an
institutionalized framework aimed at linking citrus farmers to formal sources
of credit if the main target of the first Millennium Development Goal is to be
achieved.
|
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1119-944X 2408-6851 |