Research
Perceptions of Environmental Effects of Pesticides Use in Vegetable Production by Farmers in Ogbomoso, Nigeria
Farmers’ pest management practices, awareness and their perception about the effects of pesticides’ use on the environment were discussed in this study. Data were collected from the vegetable farmers who operate along the banks of the rivers, streams and dams at the outskirts of the city. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 128 vegetable farmers who use pesticides in vegetable production. Interview schedule was used to obtain data from the farmers. Frequency, means, percentages were used to describe the data and Chi – square was employed to test the relationships between some selected farmers’ characteristics and their perception. Findings revealed that a wide variety of pesticides were used by the farmers. A high level of awareness on the risks associated with the use of pesticides was found among the respondents. However, majority (85%) of the farmers did not use protective clothes when applying pesticides. Farmers showed favourable attitudes about the risk of pesticide usage. Farmers’ age, education and contacts with extension agent had positive and significant associations with perceived effects of pesticides use on the environment. The intensification of extension services to educate farmers on safe use of pesticides in vegetable production is recommended.
Ameliorate the effects of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on the performance of pepper relay cropped with two cassava varieties
Farmers in Nigeria practice intercropping by relaying cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) into pepper (Capsicum annum L.). However, high cost of inorganic fertilizer had discouraged most farmers from applying fertilizer to their crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of NPK fertilizer and poultry manure on the performance of pepper relay cropped. A split-plot layout was adopted using four fertilizer levels: no fertilizer, 120N + 80P + 50K kg/ha, poultry manure (PM) 6,250 kg/ha and 50 % to 50 % mixture of NPK and PM. The cropping pattern, sole pepper, and two cassava cultivars relayed into pepper at 1 MAT were main plots while the fertilizer levels were the subplots. The experiments were replicated three times. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyze the data of growth and yield parameters. Fertilizer application significantly (P < 0.05) affected all the characters investigated. The highest fruit yield of pepper (13.6 t/ha.) was obtained from the plots treated with 120N + 80P + 50K kg/ha. The highest cassava tuber yield (24.1 t/ha) was obtained from the plots treated with 6,250 kg PM/ha. The yield of pepper under different fertilizer application was in the order NPK > NPK + PM > PM. The yield (10.1 t/ha) of pepper obtained under ‘Oko Iyawo’ across the fertilizer treatments was 14.4 % greater than the yield (8.7 t/ha) obtained with TMS 30572. All the fertilizer treatments yielded more than the control in the following order: PM > ½ NPK + ½ PM >NPK alone respectively.
Extension Agentsa Perception of The Information Needs Of Women Farmers In Oyo State, Nigeria
The study was carried out to examine the extension agents’ perceptions of the information needs of women farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were obtained form 84 extension agents in the Oyo state Agricultural Development Programme. Simple random sampling technique was employed in the selection of 84 extension agents in the state while structured interview schedule was adopted in the collection of information from the sampled respondents. Data collected were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage and chi-square as analytical tool. The mean age is 38 years. The agents are of various educational backgrounds, while majority (44 %) of them holds B.Sc. degrees and they specialized in different fields of agriculture. The agents indicate different levels of information needs of women farmers in the study area. Areas of information needs of women farmers as perceived by the agents include soil fertility management, how to increase productivity, use of machine farm implements, record keepings and loan acquisition, keeping family safe, household maintenance, controlling pests, and education on hygienic conditions. The agents also indicated different levels of agreement about the differences between the information needs of women farmers and their men counterparts. Socio- economic characteristics of the agents significantly (P ≤ 0.01) influenced their perceptions of women information needs. The study concludes that the extension agents have developed in-depth knowledge of the information needs of women farmers and their perceptions are mostly shaped by their direct experience with women farmers. Therefore, extension agents’ contributions toward the designing of relevant and appropriate programmes for women farmers should be encouraged by the extension administrators.
