SOCIOECONOMICS OF ORGANIC MANURE FARMING: IMPLICATION FOR SOIL FERTILITY CONSERVATION EDUCATION

Abstract

Organic manure is any organic matter used in Agriculture to conserve soil fertility. Sustainability of agriculture has become a matter of concern for food security due to the problems of declining soil fertility in crop-based farming system of sub-saharan Africa. This study appraised the use of organic manure by farmers in Katsina-Ala Local Government, Benue State, using structured questionnaire of 120 respondents selected randomly. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources and analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The results revealed that majority of the respondents (78.33%) were between 18 and 40 years old and they were mostly males (75.83%). Findings further revealed that most of the respondents (70.0%) used farm yard manure which they prepared themselves and applied by majority (72.5%) at a rate less than 50 kg/ha by placing it directly in the holes, after planting the crops. Most respondents (78.33%) reported that manure applied at this rate did not increase their yield. The problems faced by the farmers in the practice of organic farming include: lack of funds (66.67%), non-availability of the manure (62.5%), transportation problems (51.67%), low yield of crops (35%) and health problems (12.5%). It was also found out that most respondents (81.67%) did not get any assistance from extension agents who were supposed to educate them on the proper methods of preparation and appropriate rates of application for an effective soil conservation to promote an increased yield of crops. The study, therefore, recommends that more extension staff should be deployed to rural areas to give the farmers adequate education on how to prepare organic manure, teach them methods of application and the appropriate rate of application for proper soil nutrients conservation required for sustainable food production.