Cropping Systems and Training Needs of Citrus Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A lot of well meaning training programmes organised for farmers to boost the level of productivity have not achieved the desired results because farmers' felt needs were not addressed in the training content. The study investigated the training needs and cropping systems of citrus farmers in Southwestern Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty one citrus farmers (CFs) from Oyo(76), Osun(76), Ondo(79) and Ekiti (90) were selected through multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed using frequency, percentage, chi -square and ANOVA. The result revealed that land used for citrus production by majority of the CFs (72.3 per cent) was inherited. Moreover, 40.2, 32.1 and 10.9 per cent of the CFs planted citrus trees in orchard, boundary and homestead forms, respectively. Majority (65.4 per cent) of the respondents use unbudded seedlings to set up their farms. Citrus trees were intercropped with other tree crops (43 per cent), arable crops (28.6 per cent) and vegetables (12.5 per cent). A high training need in pre-nursery activities exists for homestead (74.3 per cent) and boundary (59.2 per cent) citrus farmers. Also, significant relationship exists between cropping systems and training needs of respondents. Due consideration should be given for specific citrus based training programmes to address the identified gaps. Also, citrus technologies should fit into the uniqueness of farmers cropping system to encourage its adoption.