Challenges of Yam (Dioscorea spp.) Production by Farmers in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the limitations of yam production by farmers in Awka North local government area of Anambra state, Nigeria. Multistage sample techniques were used. Ten communities in the local government were selected because of their popularity in yam production. Ten farmers each from a community were selected using simple random sampling techniques and this gave a total sample size of 100 farmers. Structured interview schedules were used for generating data. Frequency, percentage, mean score and standard deviation were used for data analysis. Out of the 100 questionnaires distributed, only 98 were retrieved and used for analysis. Result shows that majorities (71.4%) of the farmers were male and mean age, farming experience and farm size of the sampled farmers were 39 years, 12 years and 1.35 ha respectively. Inadequate extension service (2.66), pest/disease attack (2.59), high cost of hired labour (2.57), high cost of seed yam (2.43), use of unimproved seed yam (2.42), climatic condition (2.38) and bad road network (2.26) were identified as the problems militating against yam production in the study area.