Farmers’ knowledge, use, and transmission of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices in Okigwe local government area of Imo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines farmers’ knowledge, usage and transmission of environmentally sustainable agricultural practices in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Multistage Sampling technique was employed. First of all, 16 out of 25 communities in the area of study selected. Then, stratified random sampling was used to select 19 village heads and key informants and 93 male and female food crop farmers giving a total sample of 112 respondents. A 20-item interview schedule was developed, face-validated, and used to elicit data. Descriptive statistics (percentage and ranks) were used to analyze data. It was found that between 62% and 95% of sampled farmers have knowledge of and uses 9 environmentally sustainable indigenous agricultural practices such as proper soil classification, cultivation practices, erosion control, mulching, composting, tree planting, bush fallow, use of organic pest and disease control management practices. However, farmers also use 3 environmentally uncomplimentary agricultural practices such as bush burning and multiple cropping. Farmers transmit agricultural practices through proverbs, taboos, superstitions and folks-belief. It was recommended that similar researches be carried out in all other local government areas of Nigeria with a view to documenting all environmentally sustainable traditional agricultural practices that farmers use. The data will provide a basis for developing and packaging extension recommendations that will meet farmers’ needs. Agricultural extension management should blend beneficial traditional practices with Western modern science and technology with a view to saving farmers’ good practices that are transmitted informally from extinction.