AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING AMONG LOCAL FARMERS IN OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION OF ORGANIC FARMING AMONG LOCAL FARMERS IN OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA
Mafimisebi, O.E.1
Lecturer II
Department of Agricultural Extension & Management,
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
Owolabi, K.E.2
Lecturer II
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology,
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Akinbobola, T.P.3
Student researcher
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology,
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Ogunode, A.E.4
Student researcher
Department of Agricultural Extension & Management,
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author E-mail: paultolulope24@gmail.com, +2348060500712
A R T I C L E I N F O
Article Type: Research Received: 03, Oct. 2019. Accepted: 15, Oct. 2019. Published: 19, Oct. 2019.
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A B S T R A C T
Organic Agriculture is a justified innovation potent in addressing major challenges facing the Sub-Saharan African countries and especially Nigeria such as food insecurity among others. However, its practice is relatively low in Nigeria. This study was conducted in Owo Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria to ascertain the awareness and examine the perception of organic farming among farmers in the study area. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select a total sample of 160 farmers for the study. Data analysis was done through descriptive and inferential statistics using the linear regression analysis. Findings from the study show that the majority (95.6%) of the farmers were aware of Organic farming, though not all the farmers adopted the technology. The farmers had a positive perception of organic farming. The perception of the farmers were positively related to their marital status (t= 2.31, p≤0.05) and income (t= 3.56, p≤0.05) while it was negatively related to their farm size (t= -6.36, p≤0.05) which means farmers with large farm sizes have the likelihood of having negative perception of organic farming. The findings affirm the farmers’ lack of knowledge about the innovation, a majority agreed to the statement that they have shallow knowledge of organic farming. The study, therefore, recommends a cogitate effort by all stakeholders of the subject matter to promote the adoption of this technology. |
Keywords:
sustainable agriculture, awareness, organic agriculture |
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