| Title: | Rural Farmers Use Of Agricultural Mechanization In Ahoada East Local Government Area Rivers State – Nigeria: Perception, Benefits |
| Author(s): | Oduehie T. C, Adolphus G, Chukuigwe O, Iyumame P. & Ihunwo C. B |
| Abstract: | The study ascertained rural farmers’ perception on the use of agricultural mechanization in farming activities in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State. A three-stage random sampling technique was used to select a total of 100 respondents from ten (10) communities for the study. Data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents perceived that Agricultural mechanization requires training programmes (x ? = 3.77), is capital intensive ( x ? = 3.44), is preferred to manual labour (x ? = 3.25), ), increases agricultural productivity (x ? = 3.13), generates greater income (x ? = 2.94), Support services are required (x ? = 2.91), is only for the educated (x ? = 2.64), is usually for the rich farmers only (x ? = 2.63), is too difficult to handle (x ? = 2.55) and it boost employment (x ? = 2.55). The study further revealed a lots of benefits in the use of agricultural mechanization in farming activities, this includes; increase in productivity ( x ? = 4.72), ensuring economic growth (x ? = 4.55), increase in income generation opportunities (x ? = 4.48), increase in stable development of food system (x ? = 4.45), Improving farmers livelihood (x ? = 4.37), ensuring food security (x ? = 4.31), ensuring steady supply of farm produce (x ? = 4.24), Reducing spoilage and wastage of farm produce (x ? = 4.19), reduction in time of operation (x ? = 4.17), eliminating drudgery (x ? = 3.99). Lack of capital (x ? = 3.71),illiteracy of the farmers (x ? = 3.42), land tenure system (x ? = 3.24), lack of maintenance and repairs (x ? = 3.16), scarcity of Machinery (x ? = 3.07), lack of trained machinery operators (x ? = 3.04), lack of access road to the farm (x ? = 3.03), shortage of spare parts (x ? = 2.96), and prevailing agronomic Practices (x ? = 2.90) are some challenges bedeviling the use of agricultural mechanization in the study areas. Hence, the study recommends that government should make agricultural mechanization available. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural, Mechanization, Perception, Benefits, Challenges |
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