Assessment of Cowpea Farmers’ Attitude Toward Organic Agriculture Practices in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the attitude of cowpea farmers toward organic agriculture practices in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano State Nigeria. The data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regressions. The result of the study revealed that majority (98.8%) of the cowpea farmers were male, about 85.2% were married, having an average of ten (10) household members with an average age of forty four (44) years. The result further revealed that cowpea farmers had an average of twenty years experience in cowpea production, cultivating an average of three (3) acres of land. It was found from the result that family member and neighbors were the sources of information regarding organic agriculture practices. In addition, the result shows that cowpea farmers on the whole had favorable attitude toward organic agriculture practices, having an average of 3.4 attitude score from a 5 point likert scale. Similarly, it was found that household size, and contact with extension agents positively influenced the positive attitude of cowpea farmers toward organic agriculture practices at 1% and 5% probability level respectively, while annual income and land devoted for cowpea production influenced their attitude negatively at 5% level of probability. The result further revealed that pest and disease and low yield of the produce were the constraints militating against the use of organic agriculture practices. It is concluded that cowpea farmers in the study area had positive attitude toward agricultural practices and recommends that disease resistant varieties of cowpea should be promoted by research institutes to curtail the issue of pest and diseases that resulted to low yield.