ABSTRACT

The study assessed agrochemical use among cassava and pumpkin farmers in Akwa Ibom state. Specifically, the study described the personal characteristics of respondents; identify the various types of agrochemicals available to the farmers; determined the extent of use of agrochemicals by the farmers; assessed the awareness of the harmful effect of the agrochemicals; determined the precautionary measures use in the application of agrochemicals by the farmers; assessed the attitude of cassava and pumpkin farmers towards the use of agrochemicals and; determined the frequency of use of agrochemicals by the respondents. The study adopted a multistage sampling procedure to select 180 respondents. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire and analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Based on the finding of this study, fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide were the agrochemicals used by farmers. The result showed that agrochemicals have not been used by cassava farmers and fluted pumpkin farmers to a very high extent. The respondents strongly agreed that they are aware of the harmful effect of agrochemicals. The respondents strongly agreed that they used precautionary measures in the application of agrochemicals. Cassava farmers and fluted pumpkin farmers strongly agreed that they have positive attitude regarding agrochemical use. The result of the frequency of use of agrochemicals by cassava farmers in their order of magnitude are: Quarterly (94.44%), monthly (73.33%) and fortnightly (48.89%) while the frequency of agrochemical application by fluted pumpkin farmers in their order of magnitude are: Monthly (91.11%), fortnightly (55.56%) and quarterly (25.56%). Farming experience and household size influenced the level of use of agrochemicals. The regression result on the effect of the selected personal characteristics on the level of use of agrochemicals showed that farming experience (t=0.38) was statistically significant and positively related to the level use of agrochemicals. The household size (t=3.64) was statistically significant and positively related to the level of use of agrochemicals. In conclusion, the study revealed that agrochemicals have not been used by cassava farmers and fluted pumpkin farmers to a very high. Therefore, there is need for massive awareness to be created by government and non-governmental organizations on the benefit of utilizing agrochemicals especially those from organic origin in their crop production.