Preference and Perception of Bioresources among Green Leafy Vegetable Farmers in Selected States in Nigeria

Abstract

Vegetable production in Nigeria is of nutritional and economic importance. The increasing production of vegetables and the increasing reliance on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to meet demand have raised concerns about soil degradation, environmental sustainability, and the long-term productivity of farming systems. Bioresources such as Compost (CM), Vermicompost (VC), Biochar (BC), Farmyard manure (FYM), and Biopesticides (BP) offer sustainable alternatives that can improve soil fertility and support resilient agricultural production. Understanding farmers’ perceptions and preferences regarding the use of bioresources is essential to promote sustainable agricultural practices among green leafy vegetable farmers. The study investigates farmers’ awareness and perceptions of bioresources, the challenges associated with bioresource utilization, and preferences for different bioresources in vegetable production. Primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 300 green leafy vegetable farmers using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and preference ranking techniques.

Findings revealed farmers with knowledge of FYM (86%), BP (81%), CM (86%), BC (98%) and VC (0%), while 79%, 60%, 39%, 75%, 65% of farmers cannot use VC, BP, FYM, BC, and CM respectively. Few farmers (18-20%) perceived constraints such as higher labor requirements, limited awareness, and greater technical complexity, while about 50% strongly disagreed that bioresources demanded additional labor and were less effective than conventional alternatives. Preference analysis indicated that inorganic fertilizer ranked first, followed by organic manure, poultry manure, and cow dung, while biochar and vermicompost received lower preference rankings. Among factors influencing farm input choice, crop yield ranked highest, followed by extension agents’ recommendations and resource availability. The study concludes increased awareness of bioresources and reduced ability to use bioresources. Thus, improving farmers’ access to practical demonstrations and proof of yield benefits from using bioresources through extension services could enhance adoption and promote the use of bioresources in vegetable farming systems.