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Farmers’ adoption of
improved vegetable production practices under the National
Fadama Phase One Development Project in Anambra State of
Nigeria
A. H. Nwalieji and A. R. Ajayi*
Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E mail:
adefioye2003@yahoo.com. Tel: +2348051105814 or
+2348082356570.
Accepted 29
December, 2008 |
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The study was undertaken to evaluate the Fadama phase one
vegetable production project in Anambra State. Data for the
study were colleted from 160 vegetable growers (80 project
farmers and 80 non-project farmers), through the use of a
set of structured interview schedule. Percentages, mean
scores and gross margin analysis technique were used in the
data analysis. The result of the study indicates that
majority (70.0%) of the project farmers (PFs) were males,
while the majority (25.5%) of the non-project farmers (NPFs)
were females. The vegetable growers had relatively large
household size and long Fadama farming experience. The mean
hectarage of Fadama vegetable farm size of PFs and NPFs were
0.87 and 0.63 ha, respectively. The Fadama vegetable
production contributed 30.5 and 25.8% to the annual income
of the PFs and NPFs, respectively. Telfaria and Okro
production were the most preferred vegetables during dry and
wet seasons, respectively, mainly due to high income
generating capacity, high market demand, high yielding
capacity, usefulness and availability to the family. Only
improved vegetable seed, manure application and harvesting
method were adopted. The study also revealed that the
vegetables under study were profitable to the PFs,
especially, during the project life.
Key words:
Adoption, improved vegetable, production practices,
farmers and national fadama development
project. |
