Analysis of adoption of sustainable land management practices for yam production in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMP) for yam production in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 120 yam farmers with the aid of questionnaire through a multistage sampling procedure. The SLMP studied included structural and mechanical erosion control practices (SMECP), agronomic practices (AP), soil management practices (SMP) and cultivation practices (CP). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit model. Results revealed that contour bund adopted by 25.5% of the farmers was the only SMECP employed in the study area. The major Ap adopted by farmers were mulching (59.2%), multiple cropping (22.9%), cover cropping (34.2%), and crop rotation (38.3%). Application of inorganic fertilizer (62.6%), compost (23.3%), farmyard manure (25%), bush fallowing (21.7%) and shifting cultivation (20.8%) were the most used SMP while minimum tillage (31.7%) was the only CP adopted in the study area. Educational level of farmers, farm size, labour availability, membership of cooperative associations and extension contacts were some of the socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption of SLMP in the study area. It is recommended that strategies to improve educational level of the farmers and create awareness about sustainable land management practices should be reinforced in the study area.