International Journal of Horticulture, 2016, Vol.6, No.3, 1-7
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soil fertility, the output (supply) cannot meet demand for the arable crops
.
Measures and various improved
technologies have been put in place to increase the productivity of available resources especially land; whose
supply is in fixed and whose quality has declined with time of usage (Krautkraemer, 2005). In order to ensure that
there is continuous and increased food production for the ever increasing population, some of the technologies
that have been adopted include; improved varieties of seeds, irrigation system, improved cultural practices, use of
organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Inorganic fertilizer has been widely used to improve the fertility of soil and hence its productivity. There is need to
apply fertilizer to improve the soil fertility because of continuous cropping of the same land over long periods of
time. This has come about because of fragmentation of available smallholder farmland in Nigeria; hence, limited
crop rotation (Raufu, 2010). The importance of fertilizer technology in crop nutrition (FAO, 1984) justifies
government policy on fertilizer pricing and subsidy in the last few years. Between 1976 and 1979, fertilizer
attracted a 75% subsidy wholly borne by the Federal Government (Tanko and Mbanasor, 2000). In the period
between 1980 and 1985, Federal Government share was reduced to 50%, while States Government was required
to absorb the 25%. However, in 1997 - 1999, the Federal Government withdrew all subsidies on fertilizer and later
re-introduced a 25% subsidy on mineral fertilizer in June 1999 (Evbuomwan, 1991; CBN, 1999; Tanko and
Mbanasor, 2000). Osun State like other parts of Nigeria have suffered gross soil nutrient mining due to continuous
cropping, coupled with low soil nutrient levels and poor nutrient conservation practices accentuated by mounting
population growth and land scarcity. In the State, intensive cropping is gradually replacing the traditional shifting
cultivation that is associated with long period of land fallowing. The fluctuating pattern in food production due to
reduced length of fallow on land have prompted farmers in the State to amend the soil with different materials
(organic and inorganic) in order to enhance plant growth and increase crop yield. Adding nutrients to the soil
through fertilizer application is crucial in sustainable agriculture; as it compensates for nutrients depleted through
harvested crops.
Various factors and constraints are at play in the both micro and macroeconomic environment that the farmer
operates. Factors in the macroeconomic environment, socio-psychological factors and socio-economic factors all
affect a farmer’s decision on what to use or not to. Farmers’ incentives and disincentives to use any new
technology are determined by his personal beliefs about the permissiveness of his environment. An optimum
production innovation is achieved only when a farmer perceives the recommended practices to be, for him
technically feasible, physically possible and socially compatible.
In spite of the early adoption of fertilizer technology by arable crop farmers in States in Nigeria, arable crop
outputs have not shown encouraging growth rate (CBN, 2003).
Large proportion of arable crop outputs like
cassava and its products, cowpea, maize, yam, vegetables like tomatoes, pepper and garden egg are brought in
from the neighboring States to complement local production, which is applicable to Osun State. On the other hand,
the past efforts of Osun State Government in ensuring the availability of fertilizer and at a subsidized rate to
farmers in the State has not yielded the intended objective, given the present low productivity among crop farmers
in the State (CBN, 2010).
Therefore, following the current situations of low growth rate of arable crop outputs,
rapid population growth and unintended objective from the highly publicized fertilizer subsidy program in the
State; there is need to uncover factors that determine the use of fertilizer among arable crop farmers in Osun State.
Specifically examining the socio-economic characteristics of small holder arable crop farmers in the State will
reveal the main factors underlying the use of fertilizer among them. Along with this, identifying the factors that
affect demand for fertilizer and the major constrain to fertilizer use will help in informing the policy maker on the
next approach to food insecurity in terms of soil infertility. The study will also enlighten the government on the
basic needs of farmers or fundamental issues to be addressed for farmer to fully utilize the improved technology
of use of fertilizer. A study like this carried out on the behavior of fertilizer consumer, in this case; smallholder
arable crop farmers in Osun State will facilitate the fertilizer producers and suppliers in the State to capture the
market for more sales by knowing how best they can serve their consumers. Then, generally the problem of food
insecurity in the State can be addressed on the side of soil infertility.
