Fadama Vegetable Farmers Attitude and Utilization of Organic Farming Practices in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study sought to examine Fadama farmers’ attitudes towards organic farming practices and the subsequent level of utilization of such practices in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Relevant data were obtained from 120 vegetable farmers, selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure from a sample frame of participants in the Fadama-Additional Funding (AF) programme in the State. A set of pre-tested and validated questionnaires was used to elicit relevant information. Respondents were requested to respond to a set of 19 attitudinal statements and 17 organic practices with the aid of relevant Likert-type criteria. Collated data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics, and results indicated that an average proportion of respondents (55%) were found to possess a high, positive, and favorable attitude towards organic farming practices. The general belief is that organic agriculture contributes to safe and healthy diets and improves soil structure. It was also revealed that an average proportion of respondents regularly utilized animal manure (¯x = 3.74), crop residues (¯x = 3.66), and reduced/minimum tillage (¯x = 3.52) on their farmlands. It is concluded that farmers possess a high propensity to go green, and they should be encouraged in this endeavor by Fadama facilitators and extension agents.