ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF USING FERTILIZER IN CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Uche Okeke

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension,

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

Email: victorokeke76@gmail76.com

ABSTRACT

The study examined the Environmental Effect of Using Fertilizer in Cassava Production in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of cassava farmers; Cassava production practices/ farmers that uses fertilizers; Environmental effect of using fertilizer in cassava production; Profitability of cassava production and Constraints to cassava production. Random sampling techniques were adopted to select 40 respondents that were used in the study. Primary data were collected from 40 cassava farmers by the use of structured questionnaire which was administered through visit and interview schedule. Analysis of data was actualized by means of descriptive statistics, profitability index and likert scale rating. The findings on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents indicated that majority of the farmers were female(62.5%),majority of them fell within the age bracket 40-49 years, while (10%) had no primary education and most of them were small scale farmers,(47.5%) with farm size of between 0.6-1.0 ha. The serious environmental effects of fertilizer usage by cassava farmers include increased soil acidity, effect on soil microorganism, soil erosion, removal of nutrients from the soil, reduction in cassava growth and eutrophication. Cassava production was profitable given the positive values of gross margin (N1,760,090), Net farm income (N1,723,480), mean net farm income (N43,087) and net return on investment of (2.91).The serious constraints of fertilizer application by cassava farmers include lack of extension agencies, lack of access to quality information about fertilizer use, lack of sufficient fund, lack of access to efficient market, lack of access to fertilizer, poor technology, unfavorable government policies, scarcity of improved seeds, high cost of transportation, menace of pest and disease, problems of soil erosion. It was recommended that government through extension agents should spread information on fertilizer usage, advice farmers to use more of organic fertilizers to avert the environmental effects of fertilizer application by farmers.