Impact of Farm Technologies on Food Security among Smallholder Farmers in Taraba State
This study examined the role of farm technologies on food security among smallholder farmers in six LGAs in Taraba State. The objectives of the study were to: examine the food security status of smallholder farmers in Taraba State, examine factors affecting the adoption of farm technology and vulnerability to food insecurity by smallholder farmers, determine the level of adoption of farm technology by smallholder farmers and determine the impact of farm technology on household food security in Taraba State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select three farming communities in six Local Government areas, two from the three senatorial districts of the Taraba state. Random sampling was used to select a sample of 400 respondents; the respondents returned 385 questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. The result showedthe farm technologies used by farmers in Taraba state, thus, 50.6% used herbicides/pesticides while 47.8% used fertilizers as 45.7% used sprayers.The level of farm technology adoption shows that pesticides/herbicides usage is highest with 50.7%, fertilizer usage (47.8%), sprayer (45.7%), improved seeds (43.1%) were the most used. Based on availability, simplicity and effectiveness of technology, the study found tractor to be the most utilized, with a percentage of 59.2%. Herbicides/pesticides usage recorded 50.1%, sprayer 48.3%, fertilizer 46.1%, improved hybrid seeds 42.1. The result also revealed that farmers that adopted one form of farm technology or other experienced faster farm cultivation (50.7%), improved cropping system (47%), increased farm input (41%), and increased crop yield (37.1%). However, the smallholder farmers still experience food insecurity challenges, as the many of them are yet to adopt the use of farm technology. The result further shows a lack of political will to commitment on the side of government (70.4%), nonexistence/inadequate cooperative organizations (68.3%), poverty (50.1%) and high costs of agricultural inputs and services (40%), as the factors affecting adoption of farm technologies. The study found a significant relationship between farm technology adoption and smallholder farmers’ food security (P<0.05). Deliberate efforts should be made by the government, NGOs, agric-extension officers to educate and enlighten smallholder farmers on the benefits derivable from the usage of farm technologies. However, the government, donor partners, NGOs and other stakeholders in the Agricultural value-chain should make these farm technologies accessible and affordable to smallholder farmers who may be interested in adopting them.
