CONSTRAINTS AND FACTORS AFFECTING AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the constraints and factors affecting agroforestry practices among rural farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Agroforestry practices in the study area is hindered in many ways. This study, therefore described the socioeconomic characteristics of the rural farmers, identified the factors  affecting the practice of agroforestry among the rural farmers, and identified the constraints to the practice of agroforestry in the study area. Multistage sampling technique was used in the selection of agroforestry farmers. A total of 351 farmers were sampled using structured questionnaire. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result revealed that 68.7% of the farmers were males. The mean age was 48.5years. Majority (72.4%) were married, having an average household size of 5 persons. On education of the farmers, 91.5% of them received formal education, with an average farm size of 1.2ha and average monthly income of N67,523. Majority (71.5%) were members of social organization, with 89.5% having access to extension service, while 62.1% and 34.2% accessed agroforestry information from Ebonyi State Agricultural Development Programme and Agro dealers respectively. The result showed that the dominant factors which influence the practice of agroforestry in the study area were access to formal agroforestry training (89.2%), access to inputs (83.5%), access to land (78.9%), and access to credit facilities (74.1%) while the major constraints to the practice of agroforestry were inadequate market for products ( = 3.6), land tenure system ( = 3.6), and inadequate labour availability ( = 3.5). The study concluded that inadequate labour, inadequate capital, land tenure system, access to formal agroforestry training and access to credit and input, among others were the major constraints and factors affecting the practice of agroforestry. It was therefore recommended that farmers should form cooperatives societies to pull resources together for better productivity.