Abstract:
Agriculture plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of many nations and it
remains a major source of rural livelihoods. About 80% of the rural population in Jigawa State
engage in subsistent farming using traditional mode of production. Innovative farming
techniques were then introduced to the farmers in the State through agricultural development
programmes for increased crop production and livelihood improvement of farmers. The study
was designed to analyze the effect of the innovative farming techniques on livelihood
improvement of farmers in Jigawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: characterize
the major sources of farmers’ livelihoods; examine the sources of innovative farming techniques;
describe the innovative farming techniques; examine the factors influencing the adoption of the
innovative farming techniques among farmers; assess the effect of the innovative farming
techniques on farmers’ livelihoods and describe the major constraints of adopting innovative
farming techniques among farmers in the study area. Spatially, the study covered four Local
Government Areas (LGAs) of Buji, Taura, Gwiwa and Auyo in two communities from each
LGA. Multi-stage sampling procedure involving purposive and systematic random sampling
techniques, were employed in selecting 405 farmers for questionnaire administration and 40 for
interviews. Descriptive and inferential analytical tools were used to analyzed data from
questionnaire while responses from interviews were analyzed using thematic analytical
approach. Logistic regression was used to determine the influence of socio-economic
characteristics of farmers and adoption of innovative farming techniques while Pearson’s
Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was performed to correlate innovative farming with
improved livelihood of farmers in the study area. About 74% of the respondents were males and
26% females. The findings of the study confirmed that about 73% of the respondents relied on
farming as a major source of livelihood; 13 sources of information on innovative farming
techniques identified, radio ranked 1st with about 75% of the respondents relying on for
information on innovative farming; 41 innovative farming techniques grouped into 9 categories
namely crop planting, land preparation, storage, Soil and water conservation, weeds control,
fertilizer application, soil fertility improvement, crop management and harvesting techniques. 12
factors identified influencing farmers decision of innovative farming viz Sex, age, marital status
level of education, household size, years of farming experience, membership of farmers’ unions,
level of income, affordability, simplicity and compatibility of the techniques as well as frequency
of farmers’ contact with agricultural extension agents. 14 key constraints were identified
hindering farmers adoption of innovative farming techniques. Lack of adequate rain-fall and
excessive cost of inputs seed and fertilizers were identified as the major constraints. The study
recommended that adequate number of agricultural extension workers should be recruited and
assigned to work with rural farmers with proper monitoring; relevant radio programmes should
be sponsored to include call-in where farmers would be interacting with agricultural experts live. |
