Abstract: Background and Objectives: Globally, organic farming practices have attracted increased recognition over the years as a viable method of sustainable farming. However, Nigeria is yet to develop its potentials in terms of certified organic farming. The study was, therefore, conducted to assess crop farmer’s use of organic farming practices in rural areas of Enugu state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 80 arable crop farmers across 2 agricultural zones in the state. Descriptive/inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: All the respondents sourced their information on organic farm practices mainly through family and friends. The majority of them had moderate knowledge of organic farming practices. Also, the respondents perceived the reduction of food spoilage as the most important benefit of using organic farming practices. The major constraint to the use of organic farming practices as perceived by the respondents was inadequate extension contact. Conclusion: Extension agents should be supported by the government to adequately sensitize farmers about the importance of using certified organic farming practices in their crop production activities.
INTRODUCTION
Organic farming has attracted increasing recognition over the years as a valid and viable method of farming in a way that is environmentally sustainable1. This is because organic farming practices provide positive externalities on biodiversity, water, soil, landscape and climate change2. Organic farming is not only economically beneficial to small-scale farmers, it also helps to conserve and improve the topsoil by reducing nutrient loss and erosion, increasing organic matter and lowering carbon emissions. This enhances the long-term sustainability of agricultural production3,4. Some organic farming practices include conservation tillage, crop rotation, reduction of chemical fertilizer, fungicides and pesticides, among others2.
According to the latest FIBL-IFOAM (Forschungs Institute fur Biologischen Landbau: German Research Institute of Organic Agriculture and International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement) survey on organic agriculture worldwide, data as of the end of 2016, indicated that organic farming is developing rapidly. Currently at least, a total of 57.8 million ha of agricultural land are under organic agricultural management in 178 countries worldwide5. Almost 2.7 million organic producers were practicing organic farming in 2015 and most of these farmers are from developing transition and emerging market countries like Latin America, Asia and Africa, respectively5.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, appears to be at the early stage in the development of organic farming, with very few farms and projects. The practice of certified organic farming is still new to the country with less than 15 years of application6-8. Available data as of 2007 reported that Nigeria had 3,154 ha under organic agriculture, out of which 59 ha were fully converted and managed by a few farmers and NGO’s with little government involvement3,9. As at 2018, organic agricultural land in Nigeria increased to 52,421 ha with 102 registered producers5.
In spite of the efforts of the government and other stakeholders in promoting the adoption of certified organic farming practices in Nigeria3,10, the majority of farmers are yet to widely adopt certified organic farming7. This is especially worrisome as only 52,421 ha of agricultural land is under organic production in Nigeria5, out of about 34 million ha of arable land cultivated in Nigeria11. The low coverage of certified organic farming practices in Nigeria has been attributed to inadequate farmer’s awareness about the potentials of organic farming practices12. Furthermore, there is scarcely any literature on farmer’s use of organic farming practices in Enugu state. Consequent upon the above, this research was conducted to ascertain crop farmer’s use and perceived constraints to the use of certified organic farming practices in Enugu state, Nigeria.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area: The study was carried out in Enugu state, Nigeria, between April-June, 2015. Enugu state is located between latitudes 5°56 and 7°06 North of the equator and longitudes 6°53 and 7°55 East of the Greenwich Meridian13. It occupies an area of about 8, 022, 95 km2 and has a population of about 3,257,278 persons13,14. Enugu state is located in the humid tropical rain forest zone. Its temperature is characteristic of a tropical climate with mean daily temperature13 of about 26.7°C. This area has a favorable soil for agricultural activities. Thus, most of their inhabitants are either full time or part time farmers. They produce crops like yam, cassava, rice, maize, pineapple, banana and palm etc. They are also involved in poultry production and small livestock (sheep and goat) production amongst others. The state is divided into 6 agricultural zones as follows; Enugu, Agbani, Udi, Awgu, Nsukka and Enugu Ezike zones.
Method of data collection: Multi stage sampling technique was used in selecting the sampled population for the study. In the first stage, two agricultural zones (Agbani and Nsukka) were selected through simple random sampling technique from the 6 agricultural zones in Enugu state. In the 2nd stage, 2 blocks each (Nkanu West and Nkanu East from Agbani zone, Uzo-uwani and Nsukka from Nsukka zone) were selected through simple random sampling technique, giving a total of 4 blocks. In the 3rd stage, from each of the 4 blocks selected, 2 circles each, where organic farmers were mostly found, was purposively selected giving a total of 8 circles for the study. The circles selected were Adani, Opanda, Nguruh, Edem-ani, Akpugo, Apkwafu, Amodu and Ugbwaka. In the 4th stage, community leaders in each community were asked to make a list of 20 active rural farmers. Thereafter, 10 farmers were selected through simple random sampling technique from each of community. Thus, a total of eighty respondents were interviewed for the study.
Study design: To determine farmer’s knowledge level on the use of organic farming practices, the respondents were required to tick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ against a list of options on their knowledge of the organic farming practices they employ in their crop production activities. Twenty one positive and negative knowledge statements were provided. Based on the correctness of the responses made by the respondents, the total scores were categorized as follows: Low knowledge (1-7 correct responses), moderate knowledge (8-15 correct responses) and high knowledge (15-21 correct responses).
Farmer’s level of use of organic farming practices was assessed by asking the respondents to tick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ against a list of options on organic farming practices. A list of 23 organic farming practices was provided. Based on the scores of the total use of these organic farming practices, the respondents were categorized as follows: Low users (1-8), moderate users (9-17) and high users (17-23). The respondents were also told to indicate the frequency by using the organic farming practices. To ascertain the perceived benefits of farmer’s use of organic farming practices, the respondents were asked in their local language to indicate their opinion. Their responses were recorded on a 5 point Likert-type scale of strongly agreed, agreed, undecided, disagreed and strongly disagreed, with response options 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, respectively. Responses with mean value equal to or above 2.95 were regarded as perceived benefits to the use of organic farming practices. Responses with mean value below 2.95 were not regarded as perceived benefits to the use of organic farming practices.
Data analysis: Data for this study were analyzed by using percentages, mean scores and multiple regression. To ascertain farmer’s sources of information on organic farming practice, the respondents were required to indicate their sources of information on organic farming practices as well as the frequency of accessing such information and preferred source of information.
Perceived constraints to the use of organic farming practices by the farmers was subjected to factor analysis (Varimax rotation and Kaiser normalization) wherein a variable with a loading of 0.4 and above is considered as having a high loading and may be used in naming a factor. The research hypothesis was tested by using multiple regression analysis. Variables such as; sex, age, number of years spent in school, membership of social organization, farm size, household size, extension contact, access to credit, total estimated income and years of organic farming experience were entered directly into the regression equation15:
Y = a+β1X1 + β2X2++β3X3+β3X3+β4X4+β5 X5..................................β10 X10 +U
Where:
| Y | = | Total scores of individual use of organic farming practices |
| a | = | Constant |
| β | = | Regression coefficients which interprets the effect of X on Y |
| X1 | = | Sex (male 1, female 2) |
| X2 | = | Age (years) |
| X3 | = | Membership of social organization (member = 1, non-member = 2) |
| X4 | = | Household size (actual number of household size) |
| X5 | = | Farm size (ha) |
| X6 | = | Years spent in school (actual number of years) |
| X7 | = | Total estimated income (actual amount) |
| X8 | = | Extension contact (yes = 1, no = 2) |
| X9 | = | Access to credit (yes = 1, no = 2) |
| X10 | = | Farming experience (actual number of years) |
| U | = | Error term |
RESULTS
Results of the socio-economic characteristics as shown in Table 1 indicate that the respondents cultivated an average farm size of about 2 ha. Also, the majority (96.2%) of the respondents do not have access to credit and the average contact with extension agents was once during the last one year preceding the study.
| Table 1: | Distribution of respondents based on socio-economic characteristics |
| Table 2: | Percentage distribution of respondent’s sources of information, frequency of access to and preferences for information sources on organic farming practices |
| *Most frequently accessed information sources | |
| Table 3: | Distribution of respondents (%) on usage of organic farming practices |
Furthermore, the majority (75.0%) of the respondents do not belong to any social organization. The average farming experience of the respondents was about 23 years. The average estimated annual income from the agricultural activities of the respondents was ₦224,763.00.
Data in Table 2 reveals that the farmer’s major source of information on organic farming practices was their family (98.8%).
| Table 4: | Frequency of use of organic farming practices |
| *Frequently used organic farming practices | |
| Fig. 1: | Knowledge level of respondents on the use of organic farming practices |
Figure 1 shows that the majority (81.2%) of the respondents had moderate knowledge of organic farming practices.
Entries in Table 3 reveal that the organic farming practices used by the respondents were crop rotation (100%), minimum tillage (98.8%), intercropping of different crops (97.5%), mono cropping (96.2%), green manure and use of organic resources are 95.0%, among others. The organic farming practice most frequently used by the respondents (Table 4) was minimum tillage (M = 3.95).
Furthermore, the regression results in Table 5 shows that there was significant influence (F = 2.683, p<0.05) between the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers and the total scores of each individual’s use of organic farming practices. The R square value (0.280) shows the variability in the use of organic farming practices (dependent variable), which is represented in the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents.
| Table 5: | Influence of socio-economic characteristics on use of organic farming practices by the farmers |
Dependent variables: Total scores of individual organic farming practices used by the farmers, R2: 0.280, R2: 0.176, f-value: 2.683, *p<0.05 | |
| Table 6: | Perceived benefits on the use of organic farming practices |
| *Perceived benefits | |
| Fig. 2: | Respondents level of use of organic farming practices |
The adjusted R square (0.176) is an estimate of r2 for the population. The independent variables were age, sex, years spent in school, household size, farm size, membership of social organization, access to credit, extension contact, total estimated income and years of farming experience etc. The results show that household size (t = 2.161) had a positive and significant influence on farmer’s use of organic farming practices, while number of years spent in school (t = -2.196) had a negative and significant influence on farmer’s use of organic farming practices. Hence, the null (Ho) hypothesis was therefore, rejected.
Also, data in Fig. 2 shows that the majority (62.5%) of the respondents were categorized as high level of users of organic farming practices.
Entries in Table 6 reveal that farmers perceived the fact that organic farming reduces food spoilage (M = 3.81) as the most important benefit of engaging in organic farming.
| Table 7: | Perceived constraints to farmer’s use of modern organic farming practices |
| Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis-Rotation Method: Varimax with Kaiser Normalization, *Factor that loaded under each component | |
The perceived constraints to farmer’s use of organic farming practices were named based on the loading of the items (Table 7). Four factors were identified as production (1), cost (2), knowledge 3, institutional and (4) constraints, respectively. Factors that loaded under production constraints were low content of nitrogen in organic manure (0.951), among others. Factors that loaded under cost constraints were pest and disease attack on field crops (0.743), among others. Factors that loaded under knowledge constraints were lack of appropriate agricultural policy (0.625), among others. Factors that loaded under institutional constraints were inadequate extension contact (0.641), among others.
DISCUSSION
It was also evident from the study that the farmer’s mainly sourced information on organic farming practices from interpersonal sources, probably as a result of their availability and proximity. However, it should be of concern that very few farmers recognized extension agents as their sources of information on organic farming practices. This is probably because of poor extension services in the study area. It was further observed that the farmers were quite knowledgeable about organic farming practices. The level of people’s familiarity with an activity defines their tolerance or averseness of risk associated with the activity16.
Although, the farmers implemented all the organic farming practices presented in different capacities, but they were not certified organic farming practices. It is important to note that no certifying agency is yet to regulate and ensure compliance with international organic production system in Nigeria. The trade channels are yet to be formed and the infrastructure facilities for verification leading to certification of the farms are inadequate10. The reasons why farmers adopted these organic farming practices are due to the prevailing opportunities and benefits associated with the use of these practices17. Therefore, these practices are common operation among the farmers that is usually carried out in order to prepare the soil before the planting exercise16. The organic farming practices in which the respondents indicated that they did not frequently use may be because those practices do not fit into the farming system. It can also be attributed to the technicality of the use of those practices. Additionally, the farmers perceived numerous nutritional, environmental and economic benefits in their use of organic farming practices. This is in agreement with Oluwalana and Ihaza18, who noted that organic farming not only results in economic benefits to small-scale farmers, but it also reduces pollution due to reduced nutrient run-off and leaching.
Cost related issues were also perceived by the farmers as constraints to their use of modern organic farming practices. The farmers have been practicing a sort of pre-organic farming in the form of the traditional farming system using local or own farm renewable resources and carrying on their agricultural practices in an ecologically friendly environment. However, Morison et al.19 opined that the costs of organic inputs are higher than those of industrially produced chemical fertilizers and pesticides including other inputs used in the conventional farming system. The poultry dropping, pig dung, compost, silt, cow dung and other manures etc., applied in organic farming are increasingly becoming costly, thereby making them unaffordable for farmers to use in their crop production activities. Knowledge constraint is mainly attributed to inadequate extension visit, resulting to farmer’s lack of knowledge and information about certified organic farming practices. The problem of inadequate extension staff is as result of poor funding in Nigeria by the government20. Availability of extension agents could improve farmer’s use of modern organic farming practices and information needed to boost their productivity.
Additionally, farmers having large household sizes are more likely to use organic farming practices compared to farmers with small household sizes. This could be because farmers with large household sizes may have more family labour to practice organic farming on their farms. In congruence with this, Adesope et al.21 reported the importance of labour availability in technology adoption. Also, farmer’s who spent longer years in formal education are less likely to use organic farming practices. This may be attributed to the fact that farmer’s indigenous knowledge of using organic farming practices by virtue of their long years of farming experience is a determining factor and not necessarily formal education.
Generally, farmers carried out non-certified organic farming practices in their crop production activities by default, probably due to the high cost of inorganic fertilizers and their traditional age-long farming practice. Hence, there is need for the government to support extension agents to disseminate modern organic farming methods to farmers.
CONCLUSION
The farmers mostly sourced information on organic farming practices from interpersonal sources and this may cast doubt on the authenticity of such information. Production related constraints mainly hindered farmers from using organic farming practices effectively. Therefore, it is recommended that the government should subsidize the cost of organic inputs so as to encourage more farmers to go into organic farming production.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
This study discovered that farmers carried out mainly traditional organic farming practices due to the perceived economical, environmental and nutritional benefits of using such practices. However, they have inadequate information and knowledge about modern techniques of organic farming practices. This could have serious implications on the expansion and popularization of certified organic farming practices in Nigeria. Thus, this study will help the researcher to uncover the critical areas that needs intervention such as; farmer’s behavior towards the adoption of certified organic farming practices that many researchers are yet to explore. Thus, a new theory on farmer’s behavioural response to certified organic farming practices may be arrived at.