ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND PATTERN OF AGROCHEMICALS USE AMONG SMALLHOLDER CROP FARMERS IN EDU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE
Abstract
This study addresses the economic analysis and pattern of agrochemicals use among smallholder crop farmers in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 144 small-scale crop farmers interviewed for the study. Descriptive statistics and farm budgeting techniques were used for data analysis. The result shows that a typical small-scale crop farmer in the study area is, on average, a 31-year-old
male with 11 to 20 years of farming experience. These groups of farmers also cultivate 0.78 hectares and have a household size of 8. Herbicides are the predominant agrochemical used during the survey; it was mostly applied both before and after crop emergence. Usually, pesticides were applied without following safety instructions. Users of agrochemicals obtained a total gross margin of USD 1,469.95 per hectare with a profitability ratio of 1.22 which indicates that farming is a profitable business in the study area. The study recommends to increase awareness on farmer safety measures when handling
agrochemicals; and to establish educational programs that will educate farmers on how to safely use agrochemicals.
Keywords
Edu; agrochemicals; profitability ratio; gross margin; Nigeria; pesticides
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Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Niger
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1218-0067
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Niger
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Niger
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Niger
Federal College of Education (Special) Niger
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