FACTORS INFLUENCING THE USAGE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER ON SESAME PRODUCTION IN KATAGUM ZONE OF BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined the factors influencing the usage of fertilizer on sesame production in Katagum Zone of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Multi stage sampling technique was employed to select 217 respondents randomly. Primary data were obtained using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The result reveals that the mean age of the respondents was 44 years, most (93.5%) and 77% were male and married respectively with a mean household size of 8 persons and a mean annual income of ₦421,613.00. The finding further reveals that quantity of harvest, type of fertilizer, household size and membership of cooperatives were positive and significant (P<0.01) factors influencing the use of organic fertilizer among the respondents. The major constraints faced by the respondents were bulkiness of fertilizer (94.5%), adulteration (91.2%) and high cost of fertilizer (84.3%) which were ranked 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. Based on the finding, it was concluded that the factors influencing the usage of fertilizer on sesame production in Katagum Zone of Bauchi State were quantity of harvest, type of fertilizer, household size and membership of cooperatives. It was recommended that the respondents should practice crop rotation and mixed cropping to improve soil fertility, agro-dealers should be sincere and avoid adulteration of fertilizer and government should provide subsidy on fertilizer.