COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS BY YAM FARMERS IN SHIRORO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to comparatively analyze the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers among yam farmers. The specific objectives were to determine farmers preference for the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, their average yam yields per hectare and the annual income realized from the sales of yam. It also include the examination of various factors militating against the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers. The study was conducted in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. the methodology involved a stepwise random sampling of 10 wards, 19 villages and purposive sampling of 131 yam farmers. Primary data were collected with the aid of an interview schedule that was validated by experts and tested for reliability using test-retest method (r=0.83). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data collected for the study. Hypotheses were tested at 5% significance level. Results showed that 40.5% and 59.5% of the farmers preferred the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, respectively. There was no significant difference between annual yam yields per hectare, using organic and inorganic fertilizers. However, the study confirmed a significant difference between the income realized from sales of yam by the farmers. This might be connected to different marketing strategies being adopted by the farmers. It is recommended that Extension Agents (EAs) should encourage farmers to adopt the use of organic fertilizers with a view to complementing the use of inorganic fertilizers which were considered very expensive and not readily available.