Comparative Analysis Of Organic And Inorganic Fertilizer Use In Cassava Production In Imo State

Abstract

This study was designed to estimate and compare the net returns of cassava farmers that use organic and inorganic fertilizers, determine the factors influencing the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers and ascertain the farm level constraints of farmers. Data were collected with structured questionnaire from 120 randomly selected farmers, and analysed using percentages, frequency, net returns model, logistic regression model and Z-statistics. It is profitable to use organic and inorganic fertilizers but more profitable to use organic fertilizers in production. Organic and inorganic fertilizers use were significantly influenced by output of cassava, education, household size, farm size, farming experience, extension contact, cost of inorganic fertilizer and availability of inorganic fertilizer. Inadequate cassava cuttings was a major constraint to the farmers and this can be overcome by the establishment of cassava multiplication farms by the extension service. Organic fertilizer should be processed and bagged like inorganic fertilizer to make it readily available to the farmers.

> International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 9 2007: pp. 30-34