An Evaluation of Fertilizer Use Intensity Among Arable Farmers in Yola South LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract:

Fertilizer use intensity per unit area is receiving a gross decrease in Africa most especially in Nigeria where farmers are faced with different factors limiting the intensive use of fertilizers particularly in Yola South LGA, of Adamawa State. Therefore, there is need to evaluate determinants factors affecting fertilizer use intensity is timely and essential. Thus, this paper aimed to evaluation of fertilizer use intensity among arable farmers in Yola south LGA, Adamawa state, Nigeria. Four (4) farm locations were selected (Bole, Yolde Pate, Mbamab and Wuro-chekks) in the area with intensive cultivation were well structured questions were administered to 40 sampled farmers were selected from each location culminated to 160 total sampled farmers. The primary data obtained were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics where percentages, frequencies and charts were presented. The results revealed that most farmers in the area were in the middle- active age with an average literacy level having low monthly income. In all the farm location in the area the cost of fertilizers as very expensive and the cost of stable will not compensate the fertilizer cost per 100 Kg. Similarly, it was found that inorganic fertilizers are readily available in all the farm location, but due to its high cost, lack of capital, unavailability of credit and untimely released of fertilizers to the target farmers limit the affordability and availability among farmers. To realized effective fertilizer use intensity among farmers for profitable farming, it is therefore recommends that government at all levels should reduce the high cost of fertilizers at affordable rate, farmers should have access to loans and credit as startup capital and timely distribution of farmers by the government should geared towards target farmers respectively.