Journal of
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Agric. Ext. Rural Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2170
  • DOI: 10.5897/JAERD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 489

Full Length Research Paper

Production and productivity of maize subjected to modern and traditional methods of weed control options in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Mutambara, J
  • Mutambara, J
  • Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP 167 Mt Pleasant Harare, Zimbabwe.
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Ayoola, G. B
  • Ayoola, G. B
  • Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Management Technology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.
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Ejembi, E. P
  • Ejembi, E. P
  • Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, College of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Management Technology, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
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Avav, T.
  • Avav, T.
  • Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, College of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
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Masvongo J
  • Masvongo J
  • Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP 167 Mt Pleasant Harare, Zimbabwe.
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  •  Accepted: 03 June 2013
  •  Published: 30 June 2013

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the implications of using alternative weed control options on viability, production and productivity of maize crop in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 451 randomly selected smallholder farmers. Gross margins, regression and correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. About 72% of farmers who grew maize practiced manual weed control while 40% used integrated modern and manual weed control. Results revealed that viability was higher in maize subjected to integrated (119,664.38 naira/ha) than in manual (4211.63 naira/ha) weed control. Seed rate (β = 0.155), variety (β = 0.283), herbicides (β = 0.593), fertilizer (β = 0.100) and labour (β = 0.535) were positive and significant determinants of maize output with a coefficient of determination of 0.823. Productivity of seed, labour, and fertilizer were higher under integrated weed control option than manual weed control. There was a positive association between use of herbicides and resource productivity (seed quantity (r = 0.607), herbicides (r = 0.526), fertilizer (r = 0.347) and labour (r = 0.770). Farmers were therefore encouraged adopt herbicides to improve viability, production and resource productivity. There was need for further research to identify intervention areas for inducing adoption of herbicides by farmers.

 

Key words: Integrated weed control, manual weed control, gross margins, regression.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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