Assessment of Factors Limiting Production of Citrus among Smallholder Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria`

The study assessed factors limiting production of citrus among smallholder farmers in Benue state, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 respondents using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean score and factor analysis. Results revealed that 80% males and 20% females were involved in citrus production in the study area, 95% were married with 74.17% having citrus farm size of 1-3 hectares. Site selection (93.3%), variety and rootstock selection (91.7%), irrigation (91.7%), disease control (91.7%), pest management (88.3%), fertilizer application (86.7%), wind breaks (83.3%), grafting/budding (81.7%) were major citrus management practices used by the respondents. Respondents' activities in citrus production were constrained by infrastructural, fund-related and institutional factors. The study concluded that more males than females were involved in citrus production. It is recommended that research and extension agencies should target appropriate technologies that will improve productivity of citrus and increase income of smallholder farmers for economic empowerment.