ASSESSMENT OF FARMERS’ COMPLIANCE WITH NON-USAGE OF BANNED AGROCHEMICALS: CASE STUDY OF AMARANTH FARMERS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA.

 ABSTRACT

The study assessed the compliance of Amaranth farmers with non-usage of banned agrochemicals in the selected Local Government Areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select one hundred and twenty farmers from the selected Local Government Areas of Ekiti state. The average age of the farmers was 41years with majority (81.7%) as males. They had an average year of schooling as approximately l0years with an average annual income of 212,000 Naira. In addition, majority of the amaranth farmers (99.2%) were aware that some agrochemicals have been banned. Moreover, 85 percent of the Amaranth farmers obtained information on the use of agrochemicals from sales agents (agrochemicals retailers), 77.5 percent from fellow farmers and 32.5 percent from Extension workers.

Consequently, all the respondents indicated that they were using agrochemicals for the production of Amaranth and they also indicated that they still used some of the banned chemicals as 87 percent still use Gammalin, (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) 17 percent still use DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and 16 percent still use Aldrex due to their effectiveness in the control of pest and diseases (98%), inexpensive (66%), availability in market (59%) and advice from sales agent (58%). The findings revealed that Amaranth farmers have low compliance to non-usage of banned agrochemicals and therefore recommended that there should be adequate registration of all approved agrochemicals as well as educating the amaranth farmers of the state.

Keywords: Amaranth, Banned agrochemicals, Gammalin, DDT, Aldrex.

Table Contents
Declaration

Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Tables of contents
List of tables

List of figure

Abstract

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background information
1.2 Statement of research problem
1.3 Basic assumptions
1.4 Objectives
1.5 Hypotheses of the study

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Amaranth production in Nigeria

2.2 Pests and diseases of amaranth

2.3 Use of agrochemicals

2.4 Hazardous level of agrochemicals

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Study area

3.2 Sampling and sampling procedure
3.3 Data collection

3.4 Measurement of variables

3.5 Data analysis

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Respondents' socio-economic characteristics
4.2 Farmers' awareness of banned agrochemicals -----------

4.3 Farmers' usage of banned agrochemicals 

4.5 The probable health effects of the use of banned agrochemicals

4.6 Statement of farmers' opinion on precautionary measures 

4.4 Farmers' perception towards the use of banned agrochemicals ---------

4.7 Hypotheses testing

4.7.1 Hypothesis I

4.7.2 Hypothesis II

4.7.3 Hypothesis III

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary

5.1.1 Summary of results
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendations

REFERENCES
APPENDIX I