Unintended consequences of arable crop technology within farming systems in oyo state nigeria

Table .3 indicates that (15.8%) of farmer’s farm sizes below 2 acres and (24.2%) of farmers have farm sizes between 2 – 4 acres. This may be adduced to the fact that there are shortages of inputs facilities and most farmers are financed and labour constrained. Another reasons may be land tenure system of land ownership, fragmentation of land, human activities, such as wood construction etc. Few farmers cultivate between 5 – 7 acres (15.0%) and this may be because they are indigene of the area. About (28.9%) of farmers in the area cultivate farm sizes above 7 acres. This may be adduced to the fact that they have ability to secure loan and credit facilities with which will be used for maintenance of the farm. They may also be indigene of the area. About (15.8%) shows non-response to the farm size.

The information from the table shows that maize production with less than 5 tons (41.5%) are mostly produced (output) while output between 5 – 10 tons are few with (17.4). Hence, this could be attributed to the risk and uncertainties involved in agricultural production. The output production of maize with more than 10 tons is lesser with (12.6%). This can also be adduced to the farm size of the farmer. Non-response shows about (28.3%) and this may be due to lack of accurate record keeping and accounting.

The information from the table shows the output production of yam with less than 5 tons as (33.2%) and between 5 – 10 tons as (12.5%) while above 10 tons is (9.3%). This may be due to the fact that more land are cultivated which returns produce more outputs. The low percentage output may be due to pest incidence, weather uncertainty, lack of management technique and credit facilities. About (45%) of (farmers) respondents shows no response and this may also be because lack of accurate record keeping and accounting.

The table shows the output production of cassava of various farmers with less than 5 tons at about (30.9%). This shows that most farmers produces less than 5 tons and this may be attributed to lack of appropriate farming technology, land availability and input facilities. About (21.0%) are farmers who produce between 5 – 10 tons while above 10 tons are (21.5%). This may be because some farmers have access to secure credit facilities and Improved their management practices and they have frequent contact with extension agent, which provides them with new innovation technology.

Other crops produced in the area has (24.4%) of less than 5 tons output, and between 5 – 10 tons has output of (7.5%) while above 10 tons output (5.9%). This results shows that majority of the farmers in the area produced less than 5 tons and a lot of factors can be attributed to these. Among them are small farm size since most of them are subsistence/peasants farmers who are predisposed to a lot of risk and uncertainties like vagaries of weather, credit/input facilities, land tenure system, etc, etc. About 62.5% of farmers did not respond to the output of other crops produced. This may be due to lack of accurate record keeping.

The table indicates amount generated from maize production. Most farmers generated between N10 – N50,000 (36.9%) and only few had less than N10,000 (10.1%) while about (20.8%) had above N50,000. the reason for high income may be adduced to early planting period, low pest incidence level, accurate timing fertilize application, availability of credits and inputs facilities, early rainfall (good weather). Those with low income can be due to poor market structure or few buyers, which characterized the rural area while those with very low income may be due to small farm size or small land holding because of land tenure system. There are about (32.5%) of non-response and this may be because of ignorance and lack of confidence in the researcher.

The table also show that most farmers that cultivated yam generated about (33.6%) for income between N10 – N50,000 and (20.1%) for income more than N50,000 while only few has less than N10,000 with (4.2%). This may be adduced to the fact that there was favourable weather condition, good soil type, adequate timing of planting and fertilizer application, access to credit facilities and also market structure. Low income may be due to pest incidence and disease, late harvesting and poor market structure. There is high percentage of about (43.3%) of non response and may be due to lack of first and confidence in the researcher.

It also shows the amount of income earnings generated from cassava cultivation and it also indicate that most farmers generated between N10 – N50,000 (31.1%) and above N50,000 (29.8%) while less farmers had about N10,000 less (5.8%). The high income generated may be attributed to favourable condition, good markets, etc, and low income may be due to adverse weather condition producing bad produce, which commence low price value at the markets. High percentage of non-response shows how farmers hide their income in pretense that they do not gain from production of cassava.

Other crops produced indicated from the tables shows that most farmers earns less than N10,000 (23.7%). This may be because of interest of people in other produce or the cost of the production is high making the produce to be expensive and there is less demand. It may also be because of too much supply of those crops in the market making the price to fall. Only few percentage of about (18.2%) has earnings between N10 – N50,000 and about (5%) has more than N50,000. The high income may be due to early adoption of innovation by literate farmers making their produce to arrive early at the market and thus producing high income while the fewer percentage (18.2%) may be the early majority farmers who after seeing the rate of growth of other farmers crop adopts the innovation and (23.7%) are the late majority. The frequency percentage distribution from other crop in the table shows the high level of illiteracy level of the farmers in the area.

Table .2 shows the adoption of arable crop technology among respondents. The adoption of cereal/legume intercropping and use of Jelu-dye for seed treatment has the highest percentage of 88.3% each. This may be as a result of wide range of usage of these agricultural technology among farmers and because they both reduce risk of incurring losses on the farm. On the other hand crop rotation and use of compost organic manure have the least percentages of 11.7% each. This may be as a result of low contact with extension agents and low level of education.

Fertilizer application adoption recorded among the farmers 68.3%. This may be adduced to the fact that it increases growth rate and farm produce rapidly. Improved varieties of cassava also recorded 51.7% of adoption. This is because cassava is one of the mostly cultivated crops. This is followed by Improved varieties of cowpea with 36.7%. This shows that cowpea is also cultivated to a great extent in the area. This is also followed by Improved varieties of Tomato (35.9%), which is also cultivated throughout the season especially during dry season. Improved varieties of Okro is 31.7% and this is because of lack of storage facilities. However, improved varieties of eggplant has the least adoption of 12.5% and this may be because of difficulty in production.

The Improved varieties of maize recorded 12.5%. This may be adduced to the fact that it cannot be use for the next planting season and also because of its production cost. Use of herbicides and insecticides had 23.3% and 24.2% adoption rate respectively. This may be because of the cost and health hazards associated with their use.

Table .3 shows the perceived benefits of arable crop technology among respondents.

For cereal/legume intercropping technology, it was discovered that improving the soil nutrients is the prominent benefit (70%). This is because soil nutrient is of major importance to crop production. High turnover and income rates were the peculiar reasons for varieties of maize (61%) and cowpea (65%).

From the table, it was discovered that household food security has the highest percentage in the benefits perceived for Improved varieties of cassava (85%). For improved varieties of tomato, eggplant and Okro. Their ability to mature early has the highest percentage (61%), (52%) and (75%) respectively, among others benefits stated. This may be because of it is short-term benefit.

Crop rotation has 77% as highest percentage for its ability to replenish the soil is the most important benefits perceived among respondents. This is because, it increases growth rate of the crops and yield. For fertilizer application technology, increasing the soil nutrients has the highest percentage (80%) among others stated perceived benefits. The use of herbicides and insecticides show protection of crop value and ability to destroy insects/pests have the highest percentage of 82% and 81% respectively. This is because they affect crops both on the field and storage and in the process reduces the crop yield and value.

Prevention of seed infection has the highest percentage (80%) of perceived benefits among respondents for the use of Jelu-dye for seed treatment. This is because infection of seeds leads to destruction of seeds, which will eventually leads to low germination and low productivity. For the use of compost organic manure, high yield has the highest percentage (62%) as the perceived benefits among respondents. This is because high yield is the main purpose for the adoption of any agricultural technology.

From Table 4, cereal/legume intercropping has the inability to practise mechanization (55%) among others stated unintended consequences. This is because on large acres of land, where this technology is practiced, the attendant high cost of human labour is heavy, as it does not allow for mechanization.

For Improved varieties of maize, the unintended consequences mostly stated by the respondents is that, it takes time when cooking (52%). For improved varieties of cowpea, it was stated that unpalatable nature of the cowpea has the highest percentage (47%) among others stated as unintended consequences. This is because it hinders the sales of the produce. For improved varieties of cassava, the unintended consequences mostly stated by the respondents is that, it consume time for processing (60%). This may be adduced to that it takes more than the time required for processing the local varieties and high processing cost.

The unintended consequences of improved varieties of tomato and Okro was stated that, they have very short shelf-life span {65% and 40%) respectively among respondents. For improved varieties of eggplant, it was stated that there is difficulty in production. This was mostly stated by the respondents (50%).

No unintended consequences were stated for crop rotation and fertilizer application. The unintended consequences with high percentages stated for use of herbicides is that it destroys crops and for use of insecticides are health hazards. These are 45% and 70% respectively. This may be adduced to the fact that use of insectides, despite it is cost, affect human health (e.g coughing, itching etc.) and the use of herbicides likewise affects the crop.

For the unintended consequences stated for use of Jelu-dye for seed treatment, it is highly stated by the respondents that it delays germination (45%). Also, the use of compost organic manure was stated to posses difficulty in transportation (40%).