Assessment of traditional agricultural practices in Nigeria for possible conversion to organic farming systems

Summary

Low external inputs agriculture does not automatically confer on traditional farmers the status of organic farming. This study assessed traditional agricultural practices for compliance with organic practices in Nigeria. Information was obtained from 177 crop farmers in 6 states of 3 agricultural zones in Nigeria, while frequency counts, percentages, mean, and PPMC were used to analyse the data. The result shows that majority were male (69.0%), the mean in years for; age (47.7), formal education (10.5), farming experience (26.5), and farm size (5.8) in hectares with average monthly income of N30,485.76 and most (52.0%) had access to extension service fortnightly. Wood ash, multiple cropping, neem extract and trapping were ranked high as pest management practices while cover crops, uncured poultry manure, crop rotation and mulching were ranked high as soil fertility management practices in use by the respondents. However, most of the practices are used as supplements to synthetic inputs, thus compliance with organic practices is low. The correlation test showed a positive and significant relationship (r=0.114, p=0.044) between traditional practices in use and the level of possible compliance with organic practices. The study concluded that, possible compliance of traditional agricultural practices with organic practices is low. The study therefore recommend that, leveraging on some of the farmers’ practices that align with organic principles and engaging extension service for increased awareness of the standard and benefits of organic agriculture would enhance more rapid conversion to organic farming in Nigeria.