ABSTRACT

The study assessed farmers’ indigenous knowledge creation, sharing and utilization for selected livelihood activities in South-South, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, identify the types of knowledge farmers create and share for their own use, ascertain the ways by which farmers create, share and utilize knowledge, ascertain farmers’ perception towards knowledge creation, sharing, and utilization, assess the level of farmers’ attitude to create, share and utilize knowledge, determine the perceived factors that influence knowledge creation, sharing, and utilization, evaluate the benefits derived by farmers in knowledge creation, sharing and utilization, ascertain the environmental factors affecting knowledge creation and examine constraints faced by farmers in creating, sharing and utilizing knowledge. Multi-stage and random sampling techniques were used to select 360 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, ANOVA and multiple regression. The finding showed that farmers had a mean age of 41.2 years, 55.8% of the farmers were females while 44.2% were males. The results also showed that storage structures for crops and seeds varieties (71.1%) and food preservation and crop protection (70.9%) were the major types of knowledge farmers created. Sharing experience with other farmers (=3.9) and giving examples for others to follow (=3.8) were the major ways farmers created knowledge. Farmers sharing their experience with other farmers in a team discussion (=3.9) and interpersonal relationship (=3.9) were the major ways farmers shared knowledge. Planting season using indigenous knowledge (=3.5) and crop rotation/cultivate different varieties (=3.2) were the types of knowledge utilized. The farmers had positive perception towards knowledge creation (= 3.1), knowledge sharing (=3.1) and knowledge utilization (=3.0) for livelihood activities. Farmers generally had unfavourable attitude towards knowledge creation (= 2.58) and sharing (= 2.66) while they had favourable attitude towards knowledge utilization (=3.48). Increased yield (= 3.0) and high income (= 2.9) were benefits farmers derived from knowledge creation, sharing and utilization. The study further shows that wind (=2.0) and rain pattern (=2.0) were the major environmental factors affecting knowledge creation. Poor market situation (=2.8) and poor power supply were the major constraints faced by farmers in knowledge creation, sharing and utilization. The ANOVA result showed significant difference in farmer’s level of knowledge creation, sharing and utilization at 5% significance level. The ANOVA result revealed significant difference in benefits derived by farmers in the course of knowledge creation, sharing and utilization. The multiple regression result showed that household size (2.629**) and farm income (2.361**) significantly influenced knowledge creation at 5% significance level. Infrastructure (2.423**) and farm income (2.105**) significantly influenced the sharing of indigenous knowledge by farmers at 5% significance level. Residency status (2.373**) and infrastructure (2.629**) significantly influenced utilization of indigenous knowledge by farmers for selected livelihood activities. From the findings, it could be concluded that farmers benefited from knowledge creation, sharing and utilization. Hence, it recommends that farmers should share their indigenous knowledge via interpersonal medium, demonstration, and observation and through traditional communication channels.