Factors influencing inorganic fertilizer use among rice farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined factors influencing inorganic fertilizer use among rice farmers in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. A total of 120 rice farmers were purposively selected and used for the study. Data were collected by use of interview schedule and analyses were conducted using frequency, percentage, mean score and regression. Results showed that the respondents applied mostly urea fertilizer (54.2%) usually once (55.8%) on rice farm using broadcast method (100%). The amount of fertilizer applied per hectare in rice farm was 85.63kg. Rice farmers’ inorganic fertilizer use were influenced by number of years spent in school, years of experience in rice production, total size of farm used for rice, total annual income earned from rice production and number of extension agent visit. Surprisingly, rice output (t =1.243; p≥0.05) had no significant influence with inorganic fertilizer use. Government through the ministry of agriculture should organize workshops and train farmers on inorganic fertilizer use so as to enhance adequate use. Also, government and other relevant stakeholders in agriculture should ensure that inorganic fertilizers are available, accessible and affordable to farmers at all time so that they could maximally utilize it in rice production.