Strategies for Enhancing Production of Citrus among Small-Scale Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria
Mbah E.N.1, Okeke M. N.1, Attah A.J.1
Citation : Mbah E.N., Okeke M. N., Attah A.J., Strategies for Enhancing Production of Citrus among Small-Scale Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 2018, 4(4) : 25-28
The survey was conducted in Benue state, Nigeria to identify strategies for enhancing production of citrus among small-scale farmers. Data were collected from a sample of 120 respondents using questionnaire. Frequency, percentage and mean score were used for analyzing data for the study. Findings show the major sources of agricultural information to include friends/neighbours/relations (95.8%), mobile phones (74.2%), contact farmers (70.8%), extension agents (68.3%), bulletin/newsletter (67.5%), among others. Results also show strategies for enhancing production of citrus which include controlling post harvest losses (M=3.92), provision of infrastructural facilities such as good roads (M=3.79), timely provision of farm inputs (M=3.84), establishment of processing industries (M=3.73), provision of transport facilities (M=3.73), provision of technologies for waste reduction (M=3.41), adequate funding for research and development (M=3.10), availability of organized markets (M=3.19), provision of labour saving technologies (M=2.83), reduction of market intermediaries (M=2.73), among others. The study recommends among others the need for infrastructural facilities such as good roads, storage facilities, etc. to be provided by government at all levels in order for the citrus farmers to increase outputs and maximise profits.