Utilization of crop residue and animal wastes among agropastoral households in Kwara state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the utilization of crop residue and animal waste among agro pastoral households in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select one hundred and twenty respondents from the two vegetation zones in the state. Quantitative data collection method was used with the aid of a well structured questionnaire with both open and close ended questions. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics .These included frequency count, percentages, mean, while the inferential statistics used include of chi-square, Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and t- test. The result of analysis showed that (44%) of the agropastoral farmers range between 25 and 29 years of age, and their highest educational attainment was Quranic education (96%) and 99% are married. Crops grown by husband within agropastoral households in the study area include sorghum, maize, cassava, and yam, while their wives and children grew cowpea, soybeans and vegetables. Livestock reared by husbands included cattle, sheep and goat, while their wives and children rear local chicken, turkey and guinea fowls. Result of analysis shows that crops residues were used for feeding their livestock and organic manure on the farms, while animal wastes like cow and sheep dung were used for building huts. But their wives and children used chicken waste as manure on vegetable farms. There is no significant difference in the level of utilization of crop residue and animal waste between the derived savannah and forest zones of Kwara State (t = 6.11; p = 2.21). It can therefore be concluded that crop residue and animal waste are used within agropastoral households in Kwara State as one of the building material, pesticide, insecticide and organic manure on farms. Extension services in the areas of agricultural production and health education should be provided to agro pastoral households in order to increase their level of production and improve their standard of living.

Keywords: Crop residue, Animal waste, Agropastoral, Households, Utilization