FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Fluted pumpkin, information needs, farmers, Yola North
The study analysed information needs of fluted pumpkin farmers in Yola North Local Government, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe the socio-economic characteristic of the respondents; examine information needs on fluted pumpkin of the respondents; assess the information on fluted pumpkin production by the respondents; ascertain the sources of information by the respondents as well as identify the constraints faced by the respondents in the study area. Three wards were purposively selected based on their high involvement in fluted pumpkin farming, 96 commercial fluted pumpkins farmers were identified using snowballing sampling technique and were used for the study. Interview schedule was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and percentages were used for the data analysis. Result shows that most (85.4%) of the respondents were male and 35.4% were between 30-39 years with mean age of 37, while majority (85.4%) practice mixed cropping. About 93% of the respondents had no access to extension services. Distribution of the respondents by source of information revealed that majority (80.3%) sourced their information through friends and neighbours. The study also revealed that inadequate fund (65.6%), poor provision of extension services (47.9%), and poor access of irrigation facilities (40.6%) as the most serious constraints faced by the respondents. It was concluded that fluted pumpkin farming were dominated by male that are in their active age, attended formal education, cultivate an average farm size of 1.6 hectares and utilized any available knowledge or information. The study recommended that farmers growing fluted pumpkin should form cooperative associations which they can access credit not only for production but for the value chain.
Achinewhu SC & Isichei MO 1990. The nutritional evaluation of fermented fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.). Discovery and Innovation, 2: 62 – 65. Adebisi-Adelani O, Olajide-Taiwo FB, Adeoye IB & Olajide-Taiwo LO 2011. Analysis of production constraints facing Fadama vegetable farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. World J. Agric Sci., 7(2): 189-192. Akoroda MO 1990. Ethnobotany of Telfairia occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae) among Igbos of Nigeria. Economic Botany, 44(1): 29-39. Akpan SB, Aya EA, Essien UA, Akpan OD & Bassey NE 2011. Analysis of total factor productivity among small-holder vegeble farmers in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Nig. J. Agric, Food & Envt., 7(4): 68-74. Ali K 1996. Positioning of fast-food outlets in two region of North America: A comparative study using correspondence Analysis,” with Kaynak, E. And Kechkemiroglu, O. Journal of Professional Service Marketing. 14(2): 99-119. Badifu GIO & Ogunsina AO 1991. Chemical composition of kernels from some Species of cucurbitaceous growth in Nigeria. Plant Food Human Nutrition. 41: 35-44. Balogun OL, Bello TA & Afodu OJ 2015. Determinant of farm productivity among fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occindentalis Hook L.). farmers in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. Ethiopian J. Envtal. Studies and Mgt., 8(2): 152-160. Effiong EO 2005. Efficiency of production in selected livestock enterprises in Akwa Ibom State. Unpublished Ph. D dissertation, Department of Agricultural Economics, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUA), Umudike, Pp 51. Egbekan MK, Nda-Sulaiman EO & Akintyeye O 1998. Utilization of fluted pumpkin fruit (Telfairia Occindentelis) in marmalade manufacturing. Plant Foods for Human Nutr., 52(2): 171-176. Eleke SEC 2004. Vegetable for cash. Saturday Daily Independent Newspapers, October 30, pp. 88. Emenyonu CA, Odii MA, Ohajianya DO, Henri-Ukoha A, Onyemauwa SC, Ben-Chendo GN & Munonye OU 2010. Effects of waste water use on vegetable crop production in Imo State, Nigeria. Researcher, 2(10): 47-56. Essien AL, Ebang R & Udo HB 1992. Chemical evaluation of pod and pulp of the fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occindentalis) fruit. Food Chemical, 45: 175-178. Estolas WR 1996. Extent of utilization of farming technologies recommended by Benguet State University. MS Thesis. Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. Fasuyi AO 2006. Nutritional potentials of some tropical vegetable leaf meals: chemical characterization and functional properties. Afri. J. Biotechn., 5: 49-53. Fawole OP & Oladele IO 2007. Sustainable food crop production through multiple cropping patterns among farmers in south-west Nigeria. J. Human Ecology, 21(4): 245-249. FAO 2002. Report of the Second Consultation on Agricultural Information Management. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy. Available on http://www.fao.org/docrep/ Francisca SI & Eyzayuirre P 2006. African Leafy Vegetables: Their Role in the World Health Organization’s Global Fruit and Vegetable Initiative. Ibekwe UC & Adesope OM 2010. Analysis of dry season vegetable production in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. J. Devt & Agric Econ., 2(6): 245-249. Kansana HS, Sharma RP & Sharma SK 1996. Knowledge and Adoption of Wheat Technologies among Contact and Non-Contact Farmers. Agricultural Science, Digest Karnal, 16: 154-156. Kebede E & Gan J 1999. The Economic Potential of Vegetable Production for Limited Resource Farmers in South Central Alabama. Journal of Agribusiness, 17(1): 63-75.
