ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ USE OF IMPROVED AGRO-INPUT FOR MAIZE AND CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN NSUKKA AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERI

Abstract

The study assessed the level of farmers’ utilization of improved agro-input for the production of maize and cassava in Nsukka agricultural zone of Enugu State Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, the extent to which improved agro-inputs are accessible to the farmers, the extent of their usage of agro inputs, their perceptions towards the use of agro input and the constraints encountered. Primary data were used in the study. A multi-stage random sampling technique and 135 maize and cassava farmers were adopted for the study. The results obtained showed that more men were involved in farming than women in the study area, the farmers were between 40 and 49 years of age. Some agro-inputs were fairly accessible to the farmers while some were highly accessible to them, indicating that the farmers had the knowledge of the agro inputs and also the desire to use them. Averagely, the farmers’ utilization of agro inputs was at moderate level. The constraints encountered include, lack of fund, high cost of input and high labour cost. It was recommended that government agencies should provide agro inputs to the farmers and at lower cost and that farmers should form cooperative societies to enable them access loans from banks and financial institutes.