Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Prospects of organic farming by yam farmers in ebonyi state Nigeria

¹Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State, Agricultural Economics, Nigeria
²Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State, Agricultural Economics
³Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State, Agribusiness and Management

Abstract

This study meticulously examined the interest in organic agriculture in yam cultivation within Ebonyi State, a region heavily reliant on agriculture in Nigeria. The research delineated the organic farming practices used by yam cultivators, evaluated their understanding of organic farming principles, and gauged their willingness to embrace organic methodologies. A randomised sampling technique was employed to select and interview ninety yam farmers from three local government areas, each representing one of the three agricultural zones within the State. A well-structured questionnaire was utilised to obtain data regarding the socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers, their farm attributes, and their knowledge of organic farming systems. Descriptive statistics were applied to elucidate the farmers' practices, their understanding of organic farming, and the associated attributes, alongside the challenges they encounter. A logistic regression model was employed to analyse the factors influencing the use of organic farming among yam farmers. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the gender of the farmer, their awareness of organic farming, participation in agricultural training initiatives, and the practice of renting land for cultivation significantly enhance the likelihood of accepting to use organic farming practices. The findings from the descriptive analysis indicated that the predominant obstacles to organic farming include insufficient governmental support, exorbitant costs of organic inputs, limited access to essential resources, modest farm income, lack of knowledge, inadequate farm size, and the scarcity of livestock. Consequently, the study advocates for enhanced support from local government bodies to promote organic farming practices; strategic encouragement for women and youth to engage in agricultural innovations by facilitating their access to training and low-capital-intensive systems; and the establishment of community-level government initiatives aimed at optimising the use of all arable land while providing affordable land options for agricultural endeavours.

Keywords: Farming systems, Land use, organic farming, Willingness to accept

Contact Address: Mark Umunna Amadi, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State, Agricultural Economics, 480101 Abakaliki, Nigeria, e-mail: amadi.markfunai.edu.ng