Herbicides perception and utilization among cassava farmers in Delta State, Nigeria
Paper Details
Herbicides perception and utilization among cassava farmers in Delta State, Nigeria
Abstract
Over the years, herbicides have been widely used by farmers to control weeds in their farms. However, this study ascertained herbicides’ perception and utilisation among cassava farmers in delta state, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: ascertain farmers knowledge about herbicide usage, ascertain cassava farmers perception of herbicide, determine cassava farmers level of herbicide utilisation; and identify constraints cassava farmers encounter with the use of herbicides. The multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of 180 with the aid of questionnaire. Various descriptive statistics and logit regression were used for data analysis. The Results for perception reveal that eight statements were favourably perceived while three were not favourably perceive by the respondents. Statements that were favourably perceived include: herbicides can cause health problems, (mean = 3.90) use of herbicides saves labour time (mean = 3.36); herbicides make weeding easier (mean 3.76); herbicides reduce cost of weeding (mean = 4.0) while utilization of herbicides results reveals that 76% of respondents use herbicides. The respondents that do not use herbicides could be associated to ignorance, cost, and non-availability of herbicides. Several constraints were responsible for the utilization of herbicides usage included the heavy weight of the knapsack sprayers they use during herbicides application and undesired wind carriage of herbicides. The study recommends, among others, that farmers should be encouraged to participate in herbicides spraying techniques and Delta State government should subsidized the cost of herbicides for the farmers.
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Akeni Tina Ewomazino, Owigho Ogheneovo, Ovharhe Oghenero Joseph, 2023. Herbicides perception and utilization among cassava farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. Int. J. Agron. Agric. Res., 23(1), 11-22.
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