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Published:
Dec 3, 2014DOI:
10.4314/jae.v18i2.15Keywords:
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Urban Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Dry Season Vegetable Production Technologies in in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study analyzed the adoption of improved vegetable production technologies among urban farmers in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain the technologies adopted in dry season urban vegetable production, reasons for participation in the production, sources of information to the farmers, constraints to adoption of the technologies, and the socio-economic determinants of adoption of the technologies by the farmers. Data were collected from 125 randomly sampled urban farmers with the aid of semi-structured and validated questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Multiple Regression analysis. The result showed that the production technologies adopted were use of improved crop varieties (69.5%), use of fertilizers (95.6%), irrigation (88.7%), mulching (62.6%) and seed treatment before planting (59.1%). It was also revealed that the reasons for participation in dry season urban vegetable farming included increased access to vegetable for household consumption (Mean = 2.92), income generation ( mean = 3.42), and employment creation (Mean = 3.11). The major sources of information on dry season vegetable production were informal interaction with neighbours/friends (35.7%), Extension Agents (EAs)(14.8%), the radio (12.5%)and the television (11.3%). The constraints included land scarcity (88.7%), lack of water for irrigation (70.5%) and poor awareness on dry season farming (50.6%). The socio-economic determinants of participation in dry season urban farming included major occupation, income level, length of time lived in the city, and access to land. The study concluded that dry season vegetable farming in Owerri Municipal was very useful for ensuring households’ access to vegetables, increased income generation and alternative means of employment.
Key words: Dry season, vegetable production, Urban, Farmers
