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Analysis Of Organic Food-Crop Production In Umuahia South Local Government Area Of Abia State Nigeria.

Journal: International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research (Vol.3, No. 11)

Publication Date:

Authors : ; ; ; ; ;

Page : 231-235

Keywords : Key words Organic Food-Crops; Production; Benefits; Constraints;

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The study analyzed organic food-crop production in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State Nigeria. Structured and validated interview schedule was used to collect relevant information from 115 organic food-crop farmers using multistage random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using frequency percentage mean and regression statistics. The findings showed that the organic food-crop farmers were dominated by farmers aged 30-49 years representing 68.7 of the total respondents. Majority 61.7 were females and 80.9 of them were married. Over 45 of the respondents had household size of 4 6 people. There was high literacy among the farmers who had farming as their major occupation. The commonly grown organic food-crop were maize tomato and pepper vegetables and cassava. Other crops were intercropped with these food-crops to provide the much needed green manure for the crops. Increased productivity 91.3 low cost of production 79.1 high yield of product 75.7 and organic food taste and safety in consumption 53.9 were the major reasons why farmers engaged in organic food-crop production. Nevertheless constraints which militated against organic food-crop production in the study area included pest and disease attack 96.5 poor storage facilities 88.7 inadequate extension contact with farmers 72.2 lack of credit facilities and subsidies 71.3 and lack of infrastructural facilities 70.4. Results of the regression showed that age market availability land tenure system and education correlated significantly with the level of farmers production of organic food-crops. It was recommended that farmers should be motivated through credit facilities to enable them purchase inputs needed for organic farming in order to ensure sustainable production of food. Again farmers should be enlightened on various organic methods of controlling weeds pests and diseases by extension workers.

Last modified: 2015-06-28 04:03:31