Volume 11, Issue 23, January - June 2025

Usage of Regenerative Agricultural Practices by maize farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

Sikiru Ibrahim-Olesin^1,2♦, Lateef Lawal Adefalu², Sidiqat Adeyemi Aderinoye-Abdulwahab², Ajoke Oluwatoyin Kayode², Sanni Bashir Mohammed³

¹Department of Agricultural Extension, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
³Department of Agricultural Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, PM.B. 1375, Ilorin, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Agricultural Extension, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The study investigated usage of regenerative agricultural practices (RAPs) among maize farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. The first stage involved a random selection of two Local Government Areas from each of the four Kwara Agricultural Development Project (KWADP) zones of Kwara State. The second stage involved a random selection of three communities in each of the selected Local Government Areas. In the final stage, a proportionate sampling of 40% of identified maize farmers in each selected community was used. This resulted in selection of 350 respondents in all. The collected data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that the most used RAPs were cover crops, green manure, mulching, and reduced fertilizer use. The least used were compost, tree crop planting, permaculture, and biochar. RAPs usage was moderately low. The most preferred sources of information by the farmers on RAPs were farmers’ association, extension agents, family and friends, and radio. Severest constraints to the use of RAPs were lack of resources for RAPs, ineffective policies and legislations, high cost of operation. At P = 0.05, respondents’ marital status, education, access to extension, farming as a primary work, and access to market were determinants of the usage of RAPs. RAPs usage was moderately low in the state for sustainable food production. Better sensitization on RAPs is recommended for the enhancement of their better usage. This is vital to ensure sustainable agricultural production in this era of climate change.

Keywords: Climate smart, farming, sustainable agriculture

Discovery Agriculture, 2025, 11, e3da1611

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v11i23.e3da1611

Published: 29 January 2025