Profiling The Factors That Affect the Adoption of Good Agronomical Practices (Gap) in Smallholding Maize Farming in Southwestern Nigeria

Profiling the Factors that Affect the Adoption of Good Agronomical Practices (GAP) in Smallholding Maize Farming in Southwestern Nigeria

Fakunle Olufemi Oyedokun^1*,Odugbemi Oluwapelumi Olajuwon²,Omolehin Raphel Ajayi³, Ajiboye, Akinyele John⁴

^1,2,,3Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management Federal University Oye, Ekiti

⁴Department of Agricultural Education, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilesha, Osun state Nigeria

^*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.908000250

Received: 05 August 2025; Accepted: 13 August 2025; Published: 05 September 2025

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the factors affecting the adoption of Good Agronomy Practices (GAP) in maize farming within Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was employed to select 120 smallholder farmers from five districts in Ikenne. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires focusing on socio-economic characteristics, factors that affects the agronomy practices such as land clearing, mulching just to mention few and constraints faced by farmers. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Likert Scale. The findings revealed that the adoption of GAP is significantly influenced by socio-economic factors such as age, sex, marital status, family size, educational level, farming experience.95% of the sample were married ,the age  group with highest percentage is 41-45 with 43.3% majority of the respondents have a touch with education with secondary school having 41% and farm size However, several constraints hinder adoption, including limited access to quality inputs, high input costs, inadequate credit facilities, and insufficient extension services. The study concludes that enhancing farmers’ access to education, financial resources, and extension services are crucial for promoting the adoption of GAP in maize farming. Addressing these constraints can improve maize productivity and profitability, contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural development in the region.

Keywords: Adoption, Likert Scale, GAP, Regression Analysis, Profitability.

INTRODUCTION

Background of The Study

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a vital cereal crop globally, serving as a staple food for millions and providing raw materials for various industries (FAO, 2019). In Nigeria, maize holds significant agricultural importance, contributing to food security, income generation, and rural livelihoods (Oluwafemi et al., 2020). However, maize production in Nigeria faces challenges such as low productivity, pest and disease outbreaks, and environmental degradation. Agronomy practices are essential for mitigating these challenges and enhancing maize productivity. These practices include techniques for soil fertility management, water conservation, pest and disease control, crop rotation, and overall farm management (Sileshi et al., 2021). Despite their importance, widespread adoption of these practices remains a challenge in many areas, including Ikenne Local Government Area.

Ikenne Local Government Area, located in Ogun State, Nigeria showcases an environment with a notable presence of small-scale maize farmers (Oloruntoba et al., 2018). Despite the farming conditions farmers in this area face challenges such as lack of access to quality seeds, insufficient irrigation facilities, soil erosion issues and pest problems (Oluwafemi et al., 2020). Moreover, there exists a disparity in the adoption of farming techniques among maize growers in the locality. Understanding the factors that influence the uptake of farming practices in maize cultivation is essential for tackling productivity hurdles and fostering agricultural progress in Ikenne Local Government Area. Elements like socio status availability of agricultural extension services, knowledge levels and support structures from institutions significantly impact farmers’ decisions on adopting these practices. Hence there is a necessity for research to delve into these factors comprehensively and assess their implications on maize farming, within the region.

Maize cultivation in Nigeria has a long history, dating back to pre-colonial times, and has since become a cornerstone of the country’s agricultural sector (Asumugha et al., 2016). With its wide adaptability to diverse agro ecological conditions, maize is grown in various regions across Nigeria, including the fertile lands of Ikenne Local Government Area (Oloruntoba et al., 2018). However, despite its widespread cultivation, maize production in Nigeria still falls below its potential due to various factors, including suboptimal agronomic practices. Agronomy practices encompass a wide range of techniques and strategies that aim to optimize crop production while minimizing negative environmental impacts (Sileshi et al., 2021). In the aspect of maize farming, these practices include proper land preparation, timely planting, appropriate fertilizer application, efficient water management, integrated pest management, and post-harvest handling (FAO, 2019). Adoption of such practices can lead to significant improvements in maize yields, farm profitability, and sustainability.

The adoption of good agronomy practices, however, remains a challenge for many smallholder farmers in Nigeria, including those in Ikenne Local Government Area. Several factors contribute to the low adoption rates observed in these communities. Socio-economic factors, such as limited access to credit, land tenure systems, and household labor availability, can influence farmers’ ability to invest in inputs and technologies that facilitate the adoption of improved agronomy practices (Saweda et al., 2017). Furthermore, farmers’ level of education, awareness, and training in modern agricultural techniques can also shape their adoption decisions (Asumugha et al., 2016). The role of agricultural extension services in promoting the adoption of good agronomy practices cannot be overstated. Extension services provide farmers with access to information, technical advice, and training on best practices in crop production, including agronomy techniques (Ajayi et al., 2018).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area

The study was conducted in Ikenne Local Government Area, located in Ogun State, Nigeria. Ikenne is situated in the southwestern region of the country, known for its agricultural significance and diverse farming systems. Ikenne was selected as the study area due to its representative nature of agricultural practices of maize farming in Ogun State and the broader southwestern region. The area encompasses a mix of smallholder farms and varied crop cultivation systems, providing a rich context for investigating the factors affecting the adoption of good agronomy practices of maize farming. Ikenne is characterized by its diverse topography, including arable lands, forested areas, and water bodies. The local economy heavily relies on agriculture, with staple crops such as cassava, maize farming, and vegetables being cultivated by local farmers. Understanding the dynamics of agronomy practices of maize farming in this context is crucial for deriving insights applicable to similar agricultural landscapes. The choice of Ikenne is significant due to its role as a microcosm of agricultural challenges and opportunities faced by rural communities. By focusing on this specific area, the research aims to provide contextually relevant findings that can inform localized interventions and policies.

Study Population

The study population for this research comprises of smallholder farmers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Smallholder farmers engaged in diverse crop cultivation systems focused, as their experiences and practices of maize farming are integral to understanding the adoption of good agronomy practices of maize farming. Agronomy practices include improved seed varieties, fertilization, land preparation, weed control, pest and disease management practices.

Sampling procedure and sample size Multistage sampling method was used, the first stage was the purposive selection of 5 districts/areas in the local government which includes; Iperu-remo, Ilishan- remo, Ogere-remo, Irolu-remo, and Ikenne-remo. The last stage was the random selection of 24 respondents from each of the selected districts/areas, making a total of 120 respondents.

Data Collection and Analysis

Primary data was used for the study, the primary data was collected from 120 respondents selected randomly from the study area through the aid of structured questionnaires, which was framed to meet the objectives of the study

Analytical techniques

Descriptive statistics was employed to capture the socio economics characteristics relevant to the study .Measures such as frequency distribution table and percentages to describe variables such as age, sex, marital status, family size, education level, farming experience and farm size. Likert Scale was used to determine the factors that affects the adoption of Good Agronomical Practices in order of severeness

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Socio economics characteristics of the farmers Socio economic characteristics of farmers in this study area were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaires

Table 1 Distribution of Respondents according to Age

Source field survey 2024     

The result in Table 1 shows that the mean age of respondents in the study area was 44.3 years. The table also revealed that 35.8% of the respondents in the study area were within the ages of 41-50 years. This shows that farmers in the study area are advanced in age. 35% of the respondents were between the ages of 31 – 40 years and 5.8% of the respondents were less than or equal to 30 years of age. This means we have more adults in farming in the study area.

Table 2: Distribution of Respondents according to Sex.

Source: Field Survey, 2024.

The results in table 2 revealed that most of the respondents in the study area were male (67.5%) while the females in the study area were 32.5%. This shows that most maize farmers in the study area were male due to the in Ikenne, agricultural work is traditionally seen as men’s work and males in the study area had greater access to production resources i.e. the manpower needed for farming activities.

 Table 3: Distribution of Respondents according to  Marital status

Source: Field Survey, 2024

The results in Table 3 showed that 95% of the respondents were married and 5% of them were divorced or widowed. This shows that a larger percentage of maize farmers in the study area were married. This suggests that married farmers have greater access to resources like labor, land compared to single farmers as spouses can contribute financially.

Table 4: Frequency Distribution of Respondents according to Level of Education Attained

Total  120  100

Source: Field Survey, 2024.

The result in Table 4 shows that 49.2% of the respondents completed secondary school education, 18.3% had no formal education, 16.7% completed primary school education, 13.3% had a university or college degree while 2.5% had vocational training. This indicates that most of the respondents acquired basic education which shows that they have ability to read and write and hence able to access useful information with regards to maize farming.  

Table 5: Distribution of Respondents according to Family Size

Source: Field Survey, 2024.

The results in Table 5 shows that the modal number of family sizes of 4 – 6 is 75.8%. 17.5% of the respondents had a family size of between 1 – 3 and 6.7% of respondents in the study area had a family size of between 7 – 9. The mean number of family sizes  in the study area was 4.7.

Table 6:Distribution of Respondents According to their Years of Farming Experience

Source: Field Survey, 2024.

From Table 6, the mean of the years of farming experience of respondents in the study area was 10.9 while the standard deviation was 6.2. The table shows that 60.8% of the respondents had years of farming experience that fell within the range of 1 – 10 years, while 34.2% of the respondents had years of farming experience of between 11 – 20 years. This shows that the farmers have knowledge on agronomy practices.

Table 7: Frequency Distribution of Respondents According to their Primary Occupation

Source: Field survey, 2024 

The result in Table 7 shows that the main primary occupation in the study area was maize farming (78.3%). 21.7% of respondents in the study area had other primary occupations apart from farming. This suggests that the farmers have additional side jobs aside from farming.

Table 8: Frequency Distribution of Respondents according to Farm Size

Source: Field survey, 2024 

The result in Table 8 shows that 40.8% of the respondents had farm sizes of between 1.1 – 2.0 hectares while 34.2% had farm sizes of less than or equal to 1 hectare. The mean of the farm size in the study area was 2.0 hectares.

Table 9: Frequency Distribution of Respondents According to Access to Extension Services.

Source: Field survey, 2024 

The result in Table 9 shows that 38.3% of the respondents in the study of the area had access to extension services provided for by the government or NGO. The second highest percentage which was 19.2% were maize farmers who had never had access to extension services in the study area. Farmers are more likely to trust and adopt recommendations from fellow farmers who understand their local conditions and challenges.

Table 11: Frequency Distribution of Respondents According Ownership of Land

Source: field survey 2024

The majority of respondents (73.3%) identified as owning the land they farm. This suggests a prevalence of smallholder farmers or family-owned agricultural operations in this particular area. A significant minority (26.7%) of respondents reported renting the land they cultivate. This indicates that there is also a presence of tenant farmers who may lease land for agricultural purposes. Land ownership patterns can influence farmers’ decision-making processes and investment strategies in their agricultural activities. Owner-operators may be more likely to invest in long-term improvements to the land, whereas tenant farmers might prioritize short-term gains due to uncertainties about lease renewal.

Constraints of adoption of Good Agronomy Practices (GAP)

The result in table 18 below shows that 84.2% of the respondents in the study area identified unreliable availability of GAP inputs in the local area as the major constraint to the adoption of GAP in the study area. The second major constraint identified by respondents in the study area was the high cost of GAP inputs (80.8%). Difficulty in implementing some GAP practices was the third major constraint identified (79.2).

Table 15: Constraints of adoption of Good Agronomy Practices (GAP)

CONCLUSION

The adoption of Good Agronomy Practices (GAP) is crucial for enhancing maize productivity and ensuring a sustained food security. However, the adoption of these practices is influenced by a myriad of factors. There are more male farmers in the study area, aligning with trends observed in many agricultural settings (Smith, 2015). The study revealed the importance of education in farming as an art, the more you are educated the more you are informed about the happenings around you. Farm size was another crucial socio-economic variable. The average farm size was 2 hectares. This information provides insights into the resource base of farmers and their potential capacity for adopting GAP.

Several constraints hindered the adoption of GAP among maize farmers in the study area. Access to quality inputs, such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, was identified as a major challenge.

RECOMMENDATION

• There must be more awareness on the Good agronomical practices model so the more farmers will know about it.
• More extension officers must be deplored to the study area so disseminate more on the program.
• Farmes must form cooperatives amongst themselves so that they can sources for more cheaper inputs and other needed materials in the farming line
• All hands must be on deck so that we can have a sustainable food security through the promotion of the good agronomical practices

Conflicts Of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest

Authors Declaration 

The authors declared that the work presented in the article is original and any liability for claim relating to consent of this article will be borne by them

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